Concerning the Beast Folk.

           Iwokeearly.Moreau’sexplanationstoodbeforemymind,clearanddefinite,fromthemomentofmyawakening.Igotoutofthehammockandwenttothedoortoassuremyselfthatthekeywasturned.ThenItriedthewindow-bar,andfounditfirmlyfixed.Thattheseman-likecreatureswereintruthonlybestialmonsters,meregrotesquetravestiesofmen,filledmewithavagueuncertaintyoftheirpossibilitieswhichwasfarworsethananydefinitefear.

           Atappingcameatthedoor,andIheardtheglutinousaccentsofM’lingspeaking.Ipocketedoneoftherevolvers(keepingonehanduponit),andopenedtohim.

           "Good-morning,sair,"hesaid,bringingin,inadditiontothecustomaryherb-breakfast,anill-cookedrabbit.Montgomeryfollowedhim.Hisrovingeyecaughtthepositionofmyarmandhesmiledaskew.

           Thepumawasrestingtohealthatday;butMoreau,whowassingularlysolitaryinhishabits,didnotjoinus.ItalkedwithMontgomerytoclearmyideasofthewayinwhichtheBeastFolklived.Inparticular,IwasurgenttoknowhowtheseinhumanmonsterswerekeptfromfallinguponMoreauandMontgomeryandfromrendingoneanother.HeexplainedtomethatthecomparativesafetyofMoreauandhimselfwasduetothelimitedmentalscopeofthesemonsters.Inspiteoftheirincreasedintelligenceandthetendencyoftheiranimalinstinctstoreawaken,theyhadcertainfixedideasimplantedbyMoreauintheirminds,whichabsolutelyboundedtheirimaginations.