Остров доктора Моро

           Hecamedownwithatwistingjump,andstoodfacingme.

           "Isay,"saidI,"wherecanIgetsomethingtoeat?"

           "Eat!"hesaid."EatMan’sfood,now."Andhiseyewentbacktotheswingofropes."Atthehuts."

           "Butwherearethehuts?"

           "Oh!"

           "I’mnew,youknow."

           Atthatheswunground,andsetoffataquickwalk.Allhismotionswerecuriouslyrapid."Comealong,"saidhe.

           Iwentwithhimtoseetheadventureout.IguessedthehutsweresomeroughshelterwhereheandsomemoreoftheseBeastPeoplelived.Imightperhapsfindthemfriendly,findsomehandleintheirmindstotakeholdof.Ididnotknowhowfartheyhadforgottentheirhumanheritage.

           Myape-likecompaniontrottedalongbymyside,withhishandshangingdownandhisjawthrustforward.Iwonderedwhatmemoryhemighthaveinhim."Howlonghaveyoubeenonthisisland?"saidI.

           "Howlong?"heasked;andafterhavingthequestionrepeated,heheldupthreefingers.

           Thecreaturewaslittlebetterthananidiot.Itriedtomakeoutwhathemeantbythat,anditseemsIboredhim.Afteranotherquestionortwohesuddenlyleftmysideandwentleapingatsomefruitthathungfromatree.Hepulleddownahandfulofpricklyhusksandwentoneatingthecontents.Inotedthiswithsatisfaction,forhereatleastwasahintforfeeding