When the early birds are singing, and the early mists are scattering1, and the early sun is rising to gladden, as with the smile of God, all things with life in earth and sea and sky—then it is that early-rising man goes forth2 to reap the blessings3 which his lazy fellow-man fails to appreciate or enjoy.
Among the early risers that morning was our friend Moses. Gifted with an inquiring mind, the negro had proceeded to gratify his propensities4 by making inquiries6 of a general nature, and thus had acquired, among other things, the particular information that the river on the banks of which the village stood was full of fish. Now, Moses was an ardent7 angler.
"I lub fishing," he said one day to Nigel when in a confidential8 mood; "I can't tell you how much I lub it. Seems to me dat der's nuffin' like it for proggin' a man!"
When Nigel demanded an explanation of what proggin' meant, Moses said he wasn't quite sure. He could "understand t'ings easy enough though he couldn't allers 'splain 'em." On the whole he thought that prog had a compound meaning—it was a combination of poke9 and pull "wid a flavour ob ticklin' about it," and was rather pleasant.
"You see," he continued, "when a leetle fish plays wid your hook, it progs your intellec' an' tickles10 up your fancy a leetle. When he grabs you, dat progs your hopes a good deal. When a big fish do de same, dat progs you deeper. An' when a real walloper almost pulls you into de ribber, dat progs your heart up into your t'roat, where it stick till you land him."
With surroundings and capacities such as we have attempted to describe, it is no wonder that Moses sat down on the river-bank and enjoyed himself, in company with a little Malay boy, who lent him his bamboo rod and volunteered to show him the pools.
But there were no particular pools in that river It was a succession of pools, and fish swarmed11 in all of them. There were at least fifteen different species which nothing short of an ichthyologist could enumerate12 correctly. The line used by Moses was a single fibre of bark almost as strong as gut13; the hook was a white tinned weapon like a small anchor, supplied by traders, and meant originally for service in the deep sea. The bait was nothing in particular, but as the fish were not particular that was of no consequence. The reader will not be surprised, then, when we state that in an hour or so Moses had had his heart progged considerably14 and had filled a large bag with superb fish, with which he returned, perspiring15, beaming, and triumphant16 to breakfast.
After breakfast the whole party went forth for what Verkimier styled "zee business of zee day," armed with guns, spears, botanical boxes, bags, wallets, and butterfly nets.
In the immediate17 neighbourhood of the village large clearings in the forest were planted as coffee gardens, each separated from the other for the purpose of isolation18, for it seems that coffee, like the potato, is subject to disease. Being covered with scarlet19 flowers these gardens had a fine effect on the landscape when seen from the heights behind the village. Passing through the coffee grounds the party was soon in the tangled20 thickets21 of underwood through which many narrow paths had been cut.
We do not intend to drag our readers through bog22 and brake during the whole of this day's expedition; suffice it to say that the collection of specimens23 made, of all kinds, far surpassed the professor's most sanguine24 expectations, and, as for the others, those who could more or less intelligently sympathise did so, while those who could not were content with the reflected joy of the man of science.
At luncheon—which they partook of on the river-bank, under a magnificently umbrageous25 tree—plans for the afternoon were fixed26.
"We have kept together long enough, I think," said Van der Kemp. "Those of us who have guns must shoot something to contribute to the national feast on our return."
"Vell, let us divide," assented27 the amiable28 naturalist29. Indeed he was so happy that he would have assented to anything—except giving up the hunt. "Von party can go von vay, anoder can go anoder vay. I vill continue mine business. Zee place is more of a paradise zan zee last. Ve must remain two or tree veeks."
The hermit30 glanced at Nigel.
"I fear it is impossible for me to do so," said the latter. "I am pledged to return to Batavia within a specified31 time, and from the nature of the country I perceive it will take all the time at my disposal to reach that place so as to redeem32 my pledge."
"Ha! Zat is a peety. Vell, nevair mind. Let us enchoy to-day. Com', ve must not vaste more of it in zee mere33 gratification of our animal natures."
Acting34 on this broad hint they all rose and scattered35 in different groups—the professor going off ahead of his party in his eager haste, armed only with a butterfly net.
Now, as the party of natives,—including Baso, who carried the professor's biggest box, and Grogo, who bore his gun,—did not overtake their leader, they concluded that he must have joined one of the other parties, and, as it was impossible to ascertain36 which of them, they calmly went hunting on their own account! Thus it came to pass that the man of science was soon lost in the depths of that primeval forest! But little cared the enthusiast37 for that—or, rather, little did he realise it. With perspiration38 streaming from every pore—except where the pores were stopped by mud—he dashed after "bootterflies" with the wisdom of Solomon and the eagerness of a school-boy, and not until the shades of evening began to descend39 did his true position flash upon him. Then, with all the vigour40 of a powerful intellect and an enlightened mind, he took it in at a glance—and came to a sudden halt.
"Vat41 shall I do?" he asked.
Not even an echo answered, and the animal kingdom was indifferent.
"Lat me see. I have been vandering avay all dis time. Now, I have not'ing to do but right-about-face and vander back."
Could reasoning be clearer or more conclusive42? He acted on it at once, but, after wandering back a long time, he did not arrive at any place or object that he had recognised on the outward journey.
Meanwhile, as had been appointed, the rest of the party met a short time before dark at the rendezvous43 where they had lunched.
"Where is the professor, Baso?" asked Van der Kemp as he came up.
Baso did not know, and looked at Grogo, who also professed44 ignorance, but both said they thought the professor had gone with Nigel.
"I thought he was with you," said the latter, looking anxiously at the hermit.
"He's goed an' lost hisself!" cried Moses with a look of concern.
Van der Kemp was a man of action. "Not a moment to lose," he said, and organised the band into several smaller parties, each led by a native familiar with the jungle.
"Let this be our meeting-place," he said, as they were on the point of starting off together; "and let those of us who have fire-arms discharge them occasionally."
Meanwhile, the professor was walking at full speed in what he supposed to be—and in truth was—"back."
He was not alone, however. In the jungle close beside him a tiger prowled along with the stealthy, lithe45, sneaking46 activity of a cat. By that time it was not absolutely dark, but the forest had assumed a very sombre appearance. Suddenly the tiger made a tremendous bound on to the track right in front of the man. Whether it had miscalculated the position of its intended victim or not we cannot say, but it crouched47 for another spring. The professor, almost instinctively48, crouched also, and, being a brave man, stared the animal straight in the face without winking49! and so the two crouched there, absolutely motionless and with a fixed glare, such as we have often seen in a couple of tom-cats who were mutually afraid to attack each other.
What the tiger thought at that critical and crucial moment we cannot tell, but the professor's thoughts were swift, varied50, tremendous—almost sublime51, and once or twice even ridiculous!
"Vat shall I do? Deaf stares me in zee face! No veapons! only a net, ant he is not a bootterfly! Science, adieu! Home of my chilthood, farevell! My moder—Hah! zee fusees!"
Such were a few of the thoughts that burned but found no utterance52. The last thought however led to action. Verkimier, foolish man! was a smoker53. He carried fusees. Slowly, with no more apparent motion than the hour-hand on the face of a watch, he let his hand glide54 into his coat-pocket and took out the box of fusees. The tiger seemed uneasy, but the bold man never for one instant ceased to glare, and no disturbed expression or hasty movement gave the tiger the slightest excuse for a spring. Bringing the box up by painfully slow degrees in front of his nose the man opened it, took out a fusee, struck it, and revealed the blue binoculars55!
The effect on the tiger was instantaneous and astounding56. With a demi-volt or backward somersault it hurled57 itself into the jungle whence it had come with a terrific roar of alarm, and its tail—undoubtedly though not evidently—between its legs!
Heaving a deep, long-drawn sigh, the professor stood up and wiped his forehead. Then he listened intently.
"A shote, if mine ears deceive me not!" he said, and listened again.
He was right. Another shot, much nearer, was heard, and he replied with a shout to which joy as much as strength of lung gave fervour. Hurrying along the track—not without occasional side-glances at the jungle—the hero was soon again in the midst of his friends; and it was not until his eyes refused to remain open any longer that he ceased to entertain an admiring circle that night with the details of his face-to-face meeting with a tiger.
But Verkimier's anticipations58 in regard to that paradise were not to be realised. The evil passions of a wicked man, with whom he had personally nothing whatever to do, interfered59 with his plans. In the middle of the night a native Malay youth named Babu arrived at the village and demanded an interview with the chief. That worthy60, after the interview, conducted the youth to the hut where his visitors lived, and, rousing Van der Kemp without disturbing the others, bade him listen to what the young man had to say. An expression of great anxiety overspread the hermit's usually placid61 countenance62 while Babu was speaking.
"It is fate!" he murmured, as if communing with himself—then, after a pause—"no, there is no such thing as fate. It is, it must be, the will of God. Go, young man, mention this to no one. I thank you for the kindness which made you take so long a journey for my sake."
"It is not kindness, it is love that makes me serve you," returned the lad earnestly. "Every one loves you, Van der Kemp, because that curse of mankind, revenge, has no place in your breast."
"Strange! how little man does know or guess the secret thoughts of his fellow!" said the hermit with one of his pitiful smiles. "Revenge no place in me!—but I thank you, boy, for the kind thought as well as the effort to save me. My life is not worth much to any one. It will not matter, I think, if my enemy should succeed. Go now, Babu, and God be with you!"
"He will surely succeed if you do not leave this place at once," rejoined the youth, in a tone of decision. "Baderoon is furious at all times. He is worse than ever just now, because you have thwarted63 his plans—so it is said—very often. If he knew that I am now thwarting64 them also, he would hunt me to death. I will not leave you till you are safe beyond his reach."
The hermit looked at the lad with kindly65 surprise.
"How comes it," he said, "that you are so much interested in me? I remember seeing you two years ago, but have no recollection of having done you any service."
"Do you not remember that my mother was ill when you spent a night in our hut, and my little sister was dying? You nursed her, and tried your best to save her, and when you could not save her, and she died, you wept as if the child had been your own. I do not forget that, Van der Kemp. Sympathy is of more value than service."
"Strangely mistaken again!" murmured the hermit. "Who can know the workings of the human mind! Self was mixed with my feelings—profoundly—yet my sympathy with you and your mother was sincere."
"We never doubted that," returned Babu with a touch of surprise in his tone.
"Well now, what do you propose to do, as you refuse to leave me?" asked the hermit with some curiosity.
"I will go on with you to the next village. It is a large one. The chief man there is my uncle, who will aid me, I know, in any way I wish. I will tell him what I know and have heard of the pirate's intention, of which I have proof. He will order Baderoon to be arrested on suspicion when he arrives. Then we will detain him till you are beyond his reach. That is not unjust."
"True—and I am glad to know by your last words that you are sensitive about the justice of what you propose to do. Indifference66 to pure and simple justice is the great curse of mankind. It is not indeed the root, but it is the fruit of our sins. The suspicion that detains Baderoon is more than justified67, for I could bring many witnesses to prove that he has vowed68 to take my life, and I know him to be a murderer."
At breakfast-time Van der Kemp announced to his friends his intention of quitting the village at once, and gave an account of his interview with the Malay lad during the night. This, of course, reconciled them to immediate departure,—though, in truth, the professor was the only one who required to be reconciled.
"It is very misfortunate," he remarked with a sigh, which had difficulty in escaping through a huge mass of fish and rice. "You see zee vonderful variety of ornizological specimens I could find here, ant zee herbareum, not to mention zee magnificent Amblypodia eumolpus ant ozer bootterflies—ach!-a leetle mor' feesh if you please. Zanks. My frond69, it is a great sacrifice, but I vill go avay viz you, for I could not joostify myself if I forzook you, ant I cannot ask you to remain vile70 your life is in dancher."
"I appreciate your sentiments and sacrifice thoroughly," said the hermit.
"So does I," said Moses, helping71 himself to coffee; "but ob course if I didn't it would be all de same. Pass de venison, Massa Nadgel, an' don't look as if you was goin' to gib in a'ready. It spoils my appetite."
"You will have opportunities," continued Van der Kemp, addressing the professor, "to gather a good many specimens as we go along. Besides, if you will consent to honour my cave in Krakatoa with a visit, I promise you a hearty72 welcome and an interesting field of research. You have no idea what a variety of species in all the branches of natural history my little island contains."
Hereupon the hermit proceeded to enter into details of the flora73, fauna74, and geology of his island-home, and to expatiate75 in such glowing language on its arboreal76 and herbal wealth and beauty, that the professor became quite reconciled to immediate departure.
"But how," he asked, "am I to get zere ven ve reach zee sea-coast? for your canoe holds only t'ree, as you have told me."
"There are plenty of boats to be had. Besides, I can send over my own boat for you to the mainland. The distance is not great."
"Goot. Zat vill do. I am happay now."
"So," remarked Nigel as he went off with Moses to pack up, "his 'paradise regained77' is rather speedily to be changed into paradise forsaken78! 'Off wi' the old love and on wi' the new.' 'The expulsive power of a new affection!'"
"Das true, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who entertained profound admiration79 for anything that sounded like proverbial philosophy. "De purfesser am an affectionit creeter. 'Pears to me dat he lubs de whole creation. He kills an' tenderly stuffs 'most eberyt'ing he kin5 lay hands on. If he could only lay hold ob Baderoon an' stuff an' stick him in a moozeum, he'd do good service to my massa an' also to de whole ob mankind."
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1
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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2
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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6
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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8
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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9
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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10
tickles
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| （使）发痒( tickle的第三人称单数 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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11
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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12
enumerate
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| v.列举，计算，枚举，数 | |
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13
gut
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| n.[pl.]胆量；内脏；adj.本能的；vt.取出内脏 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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16
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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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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isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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21
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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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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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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umbrageous
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| adj.多荫的 | |
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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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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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32
redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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39
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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40
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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41
vat
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| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
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42
conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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43
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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44
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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45
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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46
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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47
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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49
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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50
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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51
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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52
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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53
smoker
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| n.吸烟者，吸烟车厢，吸烟室 | |
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54
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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55
binoculars
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| n.双筒望远镜 | |
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56
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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57
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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58
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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59
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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60
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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62
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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63
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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64
thwarting
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| 阻挠( thwart的现在分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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67
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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68
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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69
frond
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| n.棕榈类植物的叶子 | |
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70
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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71
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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fauna
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| n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系 | |
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75
expatiate
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| v.细说，详述 | |
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arboreal
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| adj.树栖的；树的 | |
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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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Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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