Острів доктора Моро
The Reversion of the Beast Folk.
Ihadnoropes,andcouldhitonnothingwherewithtomakeropes;noneoftheabundantcreepersseemedlimberorstrongenough,andwithallmylitterofscientificeducationIcouldnotdeviseanywayofmakingthemso.Ispentmorethanafortnightgrubbingamongtheblackruinsoftheenclosureandonthebeachwheretheboatshadbeenburnt,lookingfornailsandotherstraypiecesofmetalthatmightproveofservice.NowandthensomeBeast-creaturewouldwatchme,andgoleapingoffwhenIcalledtoit.Therecameaseasonofthunder-stormsandheavyrain,whichgreatlyretardedmywork;butatlasttheraftwascompleted.
Iwasdelightedwithit.Butwithacertainlackofpracticalsensewhichhasalwaysbeenmybane,Ihadmadeitamileormorefromthesea;andbeforeIhaddraggeditdowntothebeachthethinghadfallentopieces.PerhapsitisaswellthatIwassavedfromlaunchingit;butatthetimemymiseryatmyfailurewassoacutethatforsomedaysIsimplymopedonthebeach,andstaredatthewaterandthoughtofdeath.
Ididnot,however,meantodie,andanincidentoccurredthatwarnedmeunmistakablyofthefollyoflettingthedayspassso,—foreachfreshdaywasfraughtwithincreasingdangerfromtheBeastPeople.
Iwaslyingintheshadeoftheenclosurewall,staringouttosea,whenIwasstartledbysomethingcoldtouchingtheskinofmyheel,andstartingroundfoundthelittlepinksloth-creatureblinkingintomyface.
