Острів доктора Моро
The Reversion of the Beast Folk.
Oneperhapswasursinechiefly,anotherfelinechiefly,anotherbovinechiefly;buteachwastaintedwithothercreatures,—akindofgeneralisedanimalismappearingthroughthespecificdispositions.Andthedwindlingshredsofthehumanitystillstartledmeeverynowandthen,—amomentaryrecrudescenceofspeechperhaps,anunexpecteddexterityofthefore-feet,apitifulattempttowalkerect.
Itoomusthaveundergonestrangechanges.Myclotheshungaboutmeasyellowrags,throughwhoserentsshowedthetannedskin.Myhairgrewlong,andbecamemattedtogether.Iamtoldthatevennowmyeyeshaveastrangebrightness,aswiftalertnessofmovement.
AtfirstIspentthedaylighthoursonthesouthwardbeachwatchingforaship,hopingandprayingforaship.Icountedonthe"Ipecacuanha"returningastheyearworeon;butshenevercame.FivetimesIsawsails,andthricesmoke;butnothingevertouchedtheisland.Ialwayshadabonfireready,butnodoubtthevolcanicreputationoftheislandwastakentoaccountforthat.
ItwasonlyaboutSeptemberorOctoberthatIbegantothinkofmakingaraft.Bythattimemyarmhadhealed,andbothmyhandswereatmyserviceagain.Atfirst,Ifoundmyhelplessnessappalling.Ihadneverdoneanycarpentryorsuch-likeworkinmylife,andIspentdayafterdayinexperimentalchoppingandbindingamongthetrees.
