Острів доктора Моро
The Reversion of the Beast Folk.
Myeyeswerewearywithwatching,andIpeeredandcouldnotbelievethem.Twomenwereintheboat,sittinglowdown,—onebythebows,theotherattherudder.Theheadwasnotkepttothewind;ityawedandfellaway.
Asthedaygrewbrighter,Ibeganwavingthelastragofmyjackettothem;buttheydidnotnoticeme,andsatstill,facingeachother.Iwenttothelowestpointofthelowheadland,andgesticulatedandshouted.Therewasnoresponse,andtheboatkeptonheraimlesscourse,makingslowly,veryslowly,forthebay.Suddenlyagreatwhitebirdflewupoutoftheboat,andneitherofthemenstirrednornoticedit;itcircledround,andthencamesweepingoverheadwithitsstrongwingsoutspread.
ThenIstoppedshouting,andsatdownontheheadlandandrestedmychinonmyhandsandstared.Slowly,slowly,theboatdrovepasttowardsthewest.Iwouldhaveswumouttoit,butsomething—acold,vaguefear—keptmeback.Intheafternoonthetidestrandedtheboat,andleftitahundredyardsorsotothewestwardoftheruinsoftheenclosure.Themeninitweredead,hadbeendeadsolongthattheyfelltopieceswhenItiltedtheboatonitssideanddraggedthemout.Onehadashockofredhair,likethecaptainofthe"Ipecacuanha,"andadirtywhitecaplayinthebottomoftheboat.
AsIstoodbesidetheboat,threeoftheBeastscameslinkingoutofthebushesandsniffingtowardsme.Oneofmyspasmsofdisgustcameuponme
