The Finding of Moreau.

           WhenIsawMontgomeryswallowathirddoseofbrandy,Itookituponmyselftointerfere.Hewasalreadymorethanhalffuddled.ItoldhimthatsomeseriousthingmusthavehappenedtoMoreaubythistime,orhewouldhavereturnedbeforethis,andthatitbehovedustoascertainwhatthatcatastrophewas.Montgomeryraisedsomefeebleobjections,andatlastagreed.Wehadsomefood,andthenallthreeofusstarted.

           Itispossiblyduetothetensionofmymind,atthetime,butevennowthatstartintothehotstillnessofthetropicalafternoonisasingularlyvividimpression.M’lingwentfirst,hisshoulderhunched,hisstrangeblackheadmovingwithquickstartsashepeeredfirstonthissideofthewayandthenonthat.Hewasunarmed;hisaxehehaddroppedwhenheencounteredtheSwine-man.Teethwerehisweapons,whenitcametofighting.Montgomeryfollowedwithstumblingfootsteps,hishandsinhispockets,hisfacedowncast;hewasinastateofmuddledsullennesswithmeonaccountofthebrandy.Myleftarmwasinasling(itwasluckyitwasmyleft),andIcarriedmyrevolverinmyright.Soonwetracedanarrowpaththroughthewildluxurianceoftheisland,goingnorthwestward;andpresentlyM’lingstopped,andbecamerigidwithwatchfulness.Montgomeryalmoststaggeredintohim,andthenstoppedtoo.Then,listeningintently,weheardcomingthroughthetreesthesoundofvoicesandfootstepsapproachingus.

           "Heisdead,"saidadeep,vibratingvoice.