Острів доктора Моро
The Reversion of the Beast Folk.
Ifellunderthehindpartofitsbody;butluckilyIhadhitasImeant,andithaddiedevenasitleapt.Icrawledoutfromunderitsuncleanweightandstooduptrembling,staringatitsquiveringbody.Thatdangeratleastwasover;butthis,Iknewwasonlythefirstoftheseriesofrelapsesthatmustcome.
Iburntbothofthebodiesonapyreofbrushwood;butafterthatIsawthatunlessIlefttheislandmydeathwasonlyaquestionoftime.TheBeastPeoplebythattimehad,withoneortwoexceptions,lefttheravineandmadethemselveslairsaccordingtotheirtasteamongthethicketsoftheisland.Fewprowledbyday,mostofthemslept,andtheislandmighthaveseemeddesertedtoanew-comer;butatnighttheairwashideouswiththeircallsandhowling.Ihadhalfamindtomakeamassacreofthem;tobuildtraps,orfightthemwithmyknife.HadIpossessedsufficientcartridges,Ishouldnothavehesitatedtobeginthekilling.Therecouldnowbescarcelyascoreleftofthedangerouscarnivores;thebraverofthesewerealreadydead.Afterthedeathofthispoordogofmine,mylastfriend,Itooadoptedtosomeextentthepracticeofslumberinginthedaytimeinordertobeonmyguardatnight.Irebuiltmydeninthewallsoftheenclosure,withsuchanarrowopeningthatanythingattemptingtoentermustnecessarilymakeaconsiderablenoise.Thecreatureshadlosttheartoffiretoo,andrecoveredtheirfearofit.
