Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
7. The Biters Of The Walls (Further Account)
Iheardthecrunchoftheprisoner’sribsasthepadsstruckhim,andatthatsamemomentthepoorwretch’sbodywasspurnedawaybytheblow,asonemightthrowafruitwiththehand.Butitdidnottravelfar.Itwasclearthattheshe-tigerknewthismanoeuvreofhermate’s.Shecaughtthemanonhisbound,nuzzlingoverhimforaminute,andthentossinghimhighintotheair,andleapinguptothefullofhersplendidheightafterhim.
Thoseotheronlookersthoughtitmagnificent;theirgleefulshoutssaidasmuch.Butforme,mygorgeroseatthesight.Oncethetigershadreachedhim,themanhadbeenkilled,itistrue,withoutanyunnecessarylingering.Evenalightblowfromthoseterrificpawswouldslaythestrongestmanliving.Buttoseethetwocave-tigerstoyingwiththepoorbodywasaninsulttotheprideofourrace.
However,Iwasnottheretopreachthesuperiorityofmantothebeasts,andtheindecencyanddegradationofpermittingmantobeundulyinsulted.IhadcometolearnformyselfthenewbalanceofthingsinthekingdomofAtlantis,andsoIstoodatmyplacebehindthearrow-slitwithastillface.Andpresentlyanothersceneinthisghastlyplaywasenacted.
Thecave-tigerstiredoftheirsport,andfirstoneandthentheotherfelloncemoretoprowlingoverthelitteredpavements,withtheheavychainsscrapingandchinkingintheirwake.Theymadenobeginningtofeastonthebodiesprovidedforthem.Thatwouldbeforafterwards.Inthepresent,thefascinationofslaughterwasbiginthem,andtheyhadthoughtthatitwouldbeindulgedfurther.
