Острів доктора Моро

           "

           "Iwasasillyass,"saidMontgomery."Butthething’sdonenow;andyousaidImighthavethem,youknow."

           "Wemustseetothethingatonce,"saidMoreau."Isupposeifanythingshouldturnup,M’lingcantakecareofhimself?"

           "I’mnotsosureofM’ling,"saidMontgomery."IthinkIoughttoknowhim."

           Intheafternoon,Moreau,Montgomery,myself,andM’lingwentacrosstheislandtothehutsintheravine.Wethreewerearmed;M’lingcarriedthelittlehatchetheusedinchoppingfirewood,andsomecoilsofwire.Moreauhadahugecowherd’shornslungoverhisshoulder.

           "YouwillseeagatheringoftheBeastPeople,"saidMontgomery."Itisaprettysight!"

           Moreausaidnotawordontheway,buttheexpressionofhisheavy,white-fringedfacewasgrimlyset.

           Wecrossedtheravinedownwhichsmokedthestreamofhotwater,andfollowedthewindingpathwaythroughthecanebrakesuntilwereachedawideareacoveredoverwithathick,powderyyellowsubstancewhichIbelievewassulphur.Abovetheshoulderofaweedybanktheseaglittered.Wecametoakindofshallownaturalamphitheatre,andherethefourofushalted.ThenMoreausoundedthehorn,andbrokethesleepingstillnessofthetropicalafternoon.Hemusthavehadstronglungs.Thehootingnoteroseandroseamidstitsechoes,toatlastanear-penetratingintensity.