Острів доктора Моро
The Crying of the Puma.
"Rum!"hesaid."Ican’tseeit."Heresumedhismeal."Ihadnoideaofit,"hesaid,andmasticated."Thecrewoftheschoonermusthavefeltitthesame.Madeadeadsetatthepoordevil.Yousawthecaptain?"
Suddenlythepumahowledagain,thistimemorepainfully.Montgomerysworeunderhisbreath.Ihadhalfamindtoattackhimaboutthemenonthebeach.Thenthepoorbrutewithingaveventtoaseriesofshort,sharpcries.
"Yourmenonthebeach,"saidI;"whatracearethey?"
"Excellentfellows,aren’tthey?"saidhe,absentmindedly,knittinghisbrowsastheanimalyelledoutsharply.
Isaidnomore.Therewasanotheroutcryworsethantheformer.Helookedatmewithhisdullgreyeyes,andthentooksomemorewhiskey.Hetriedtodrawmeintoadiscussionaboutalcohol,professingtohavesavedmylifewithit.HeseemedanxioustolaystressonthefactthatIowedmylifetohim.Iansweredhimdistractedly.
Presentlyourmealcametoanend;themisshapenmonsterwiththepointedearsclearedtheremainsaway,andMontgomeryleftmealoneintheroomagain.Allthetimehehadbeeninastateofill-concealedirritationatthenoiseofthevivisectedpuma.Hehadspokenofhisoddwantofnerve,andleftmetotheobviousapplication.
Ifoundmyselfthatthecriesweresingularlyirritating,andtheygrewindepthandintensityastheafternoonworeon
