Острів доктора Моро
The Reversion of the Beast Folk.
Thenasthemooncreptdownfromthezenith,onebyonethelistenersbegantoyawn(showingtheoddestteethinthelightofthesinkingfire),andfirstoneandthenanotherretiredtowardsthedensintheravine;andI,dreadingthesilenceanddarkness,wentwiththem,knowingIwassaferwithseveralofthemthanwithonealone.
InthismannerbeganthelongerpartofmysojournuponthisIslandofDoctorMoreau.Butfromthatnightuntiltheendcame,therewasbutonethinghappenedtotellsaveaseriesofinnumerablesmallunpleasantdetailsandthefrettingofanincessantuneasiness.SothatIprefertomakenochronicleforthatgapoftime,totellonlyonecardinalincidentofthetenmonthsIspentasanintimateofthesehalf-humanisedbrutes.ThereismuchthatsticksinmymemorythatIcouldwrite,—thingsthatIwouldcheerfullygivemyrighthandtoforget;buttheydonothelpthetellingofthestory.
IntheretrospectitisstrangetorememberhowsoonIfellinwiththesemonsters’ways,andgainedmyconfidenceagain.Ihadmyquarrelswiththemofcourse,andcouldshowsomeoftheirteeth-marksstill;buttheysoongainedawholesomerespectformytrickofthrowingstonesandforthebiteofmyhatchet.AndmySaint-Bernard-man’sloyaltywasofinfiniteservicetome.Ifoundtheirsimplescaleofhonourwasbasedmainlyonthecapacityforinflictingtrenchantwounds.Indeed,Imaysay—withoutvanity,Ihope—thatIheldsomethinglikepre-eminenceamongthem.
