Острів доктора Моро

           Itwasplainenoughatfirstonaccountofthecrushedandbrokenbushes,whiteragstornfromthepuma’sbandages,andoccasionalsmearsofbloodontheleavesoftheshrubsandundergrowth.Helostthetrack,however,onthestonygroundbeyondthestreamwhereIhadseentheBeastMandrinking,andwentwanderingaimlesslywestwardshoutingMoreau’sname.ThenM’linghadcometohimcarryingalighthatchet.M’linghadseennothingofthepumaaffair;hadbeenfellingwood,andheardhimcalling.Theywentonshoutingtogether.TwoBeastMencamecrouchingandpeeringatthemthroughtheundergrowth,withgesturesandafurtivecarriagethatalarmedMontgomerybytheirstrangeness.Hehailedthem,andtheyfledguiltily.Hestoppedshoutingafterthat,andafterwanderingsometimefartherinanundecidedway,determinedtovisitthehuts.

           Hefoundtheravinedeserted.

           Growingmorealarmedeveryminute,hebegantoretracehissteps.ThenitwasheencounteredthetwoSwine-menIhadseendancingonthenightofmyarrival;blood-stainedtheywereaboutthemouth,andintenselyexcited.Theycamecrashingthroughtheferns,andstoppedwithfiercefaceswhentheysawhim.Hecrackedhiswhipinsometrepidation,andforthwiththeyrushedathim.NeverbeforehadaBeastMandaredtodothat.Oneheshotthroughthehead;M’lingflunghimselfupontheother,andthetworolledgrappling.M’linggothisbruteunderandwithhisteethinitsthroat,andMontgomeryshotthattooasitstruggledinM’ling’sgrip