Острів доктора Моро
The Sayers of the Law.
BeforemeweretheclumsybacksofperhapsascoreoftheseBeastPeople,theirmisshapenheadshalfhiddenbytheirshoulder-blades.Theyweregesticulatingexcitedly.Otherhalf-animalfacesglaredinterrogationoutofthehovels.Lookinginthedirectioninwhichtheyfaced,IsawcomingthroughthehazeunderthetreesbeyondtheendofthepassageofdensthedarkfigureandawfulwhitefaceofMoreau.Hewasholdingtheleapingstaghoundback,andclosebehindhimcameMontgomeryrevolverinhand.
ForamomentIstoodhorror-struck.Iturnedandsawthepassagebehindmeblockedbyanotherheavybrute,withahugegreyfaceandtwinklinglittleeyes,advancingtowardsme.Ilookedroundandsawtotherightofmeandahalf-dozenyardsinfrontofmeanarrowgapinthewallofrockthroughwhicharayoflightslantedintotheshadows.
"Stop!"criedMoreauasIstrodetowardsthis,andthen,"Holdhim!"
Atthat,firstonefaceturnedtowardsmeandthenothers.Theirbestialmindswerehappilyslow.IdashedmyshoulderintoaclumsymonsterwhowasturningtoseewhatMoreaumeant,andflunghimforwardintoanother.Ifelthishandsflyround,clutchingatmeandmissingme.Thelittlepinksloth-creaturedashedatme,andIgasheddownitsuglyfacewiththenailinmystickandinanotherminutewasscramblingupasteepsidepathway,akindofslopingchimney,outoftheravine.
