Montgomery’s “Bank Holiday”

When this was accomplished, and we had washed and eaten, Montgomery and I went into my little room and seriously discussed our position for the first time. It was then near midnight. He was almost sober, but greatly disturbed in his mind. He had been strangely under the influence of Moreau’s personality: I do not think it had ever occurred to him that Moreau could die. This disaster was the sudden collapse of the habits that had become part of his nature in the ten or more monotonous years he had spent on the island. He talked vaguely, answered my questions crookedly, wandered into general questions.

When this was done, we washed and ate. Then Montgomery and I went into my little room and seriously discussed our situation for the first time. It was nearly midnight. He was almost sober, but deeply troubled. Moreau’s personality had held a strange influence over him. I do not think it had ever occurred to him that Moreau could die. This disaster suddenly shattered the habits that had become part of his nature during ten or more monotonous years on the island. He spoke vaguely, gave evasive answers to my questions, and wandered into general topics.

“This silly ass of a world,” he said; “what a muddle it all is! I haven’t had any life. I wonder when it’s going to begin. Sixteen years being bullied by nurses and schoolmasters at their own sweet will; five in London grinding hard at medicine, bad food, shabby lodgings, shabby clothes, shabby vice, a blunder,—I didn’t know any better,—and hustled off to this beastly island. Ten years here! What’s it all for, Prendick? Are we bubbles blown by a baby?”

“This ridiculous world,” he said. “What a mess it all is! I haven’t had any life. I wonder when it’s going to begin. Sixteen years of nurses and schoolmasters bullying me whenever they pleased. Five years in London, working hard at medicine, with bad food, shabby lodgings, shabby clothes, cheap vice, and a mistake. I didn’t know any better. Then I was sent off to this awful island. Ten years here! What’s it all for, Prendick? Are we bubbles blown by a baby?”

It was hard to deal with such ravings. “The thing we have to think of now,” said I, “is how to get away from this island.”

It was hard to deal with such wild talk. “What we need to think about now,” I said, “is how to get off this island.”

“What’s the good of getting away? I’m an outcast. Where am I to join on? It’s all very well for you, Prendick. Poor old Moreau! We can’t leave him here to have his bones picked. As it is—And besides, what will become of the decent part of the Beast Folk?”

“What’s the point of getting away? I’m an outcast. Where am I supposed to fit in? It’s easy for you, Prendick. Poor old Moreau! We can’t leave him here for his bones to be picked clean. As it is... And besides, what will happen to the decent part of the Beast Folk?”

“Well,” said I, “that will do to-morrow. I’ve been thinking we might make the brushwood into a pyre and burn his body—and those other things. Then what will happen with the Beast Folk?”

“Well,” I said, “that can wait until tomorrow. I’ve been thinking we could make a funeral pyre from the brushwood. We could burn his body and those other things on it. Then what will happen to the Beast Folk?”

“I don’t know. I suppose those that were made of beasts of prey will make silly asses of themselves sooner or later. We can’t massacre the lot—can we? I suppose that’s what your humanity would suggest? But they’ll change. They are sure to change.”

“I don’t know. I suppose those made from predators will make fools of themselves sooner or later. We can’t kill them all, can we? I suppose that’s what your humanity would suggest? But they’ll change. They’re sure to change.”

He talked thus inconclusively until at last I felt my temper going.

He kept talking without reaching a conclusion until I finally felt myself losing my temper.

“Damnation!” he exclaimed at some petulance of mine; “can’t you see I’m in a worse hole than you are?” And he got up, and went for the brandy. “Drink!” he said returning, “you logic-chopping, chalky-faced saint of an atheist, drink!”

“Damnation!” he exclaimed when I complained. “Can’t you see I’m in a worse situation than you are?” He got up and went for the brandy. He returned and said, “Drink! You pale-faced, saintly atheist, always splitting hairs. Drink!”

“Not I,” said I, and sat grimly watching his face under the yellow paraffine flare, as he drank himself into a garrulous misery.

“Not me,” I said. I sat grimly watching his face in the yellow lamplight as he drank himself into a talkative misery.

I have a memory of infinite tedium. He wandered into a maudlin defence of the Beast People and of M’ling. M’ling, he said, was the only thing that had ever really cared for him. And suddenly an idea came to him.

I remember endless boredom. He drifted into a tearful defense of the Beast People and M’ling. He said M’ling was the only one who had ever really cared for him. Then suddenly, he had an idea.

“I’m damned!” said he, staggering to his feet and clutching the brandy bottle.

“I’m damned!” he said, staggering to his feet and clutching the brandy bottle.

By some flash of intuition I knew what it was he intended. “You don’t give drink to that beast!” I said, rising and facing him.

In a flash of intuition, I knew what he intended to do. “You don’t give that beast a drink!” I said, standing up and facing him.

“Beast!” said he. “You’re the beast. He takes his liquor like a Christian. Come out of the way, Prendick!”

“Beast!” he said. “You’re the beast. He handles his liquor like a Christian. Get out of the way, Prendick!”

“For God’s sake,” said I.

“For God’s sake,” I said.

“Get—out of the way!” he roared, and suddenly whipped out his revolver.

“Get out of the way!” he roared, and suddenly pulled out his revolver.

“Very well,” said I, and stood aside, half-minded to fall upon him as he put his hand upon the latch, but deterred by the thought of my useless arm. “You’ve made a beast of yourself,—to the beasts you may go.”

“Very well,” I said, and stepped aside. I was tempted to attack him as he put his hand on the latch. But I held back because my arm was useless. “You’ve made a beast of yourself. You can go to the beasts.”

He flung the doorway open, and stood half facing me between the yellow lamp-light and the pallid glare of the moon; his eye-sockets were blotches of black under his stubbly eyebrows.

He threw the door open and stood half facing me, between the yellow lamplight and the pale glare of the moon. His eye sockets were black blotches beneath his bristly eyebrows.

“You’re a solemn prig, Prendick, a silly ass! You’re always fearing and fancying. We’re on the edge of things. I’m bound to cut my throat to-morrow. I’m going to have a damned Bank Holiday to-night.” He turned and went out into the moonlight. “M’ling!” he cried; “M’ling, old friend!”

“You’re a self-righteous fool, Prendick, a silly ass! You’re always worrying and imagining things. We’re on the edge of things. I’m bound to cut my throat tomorrow. I’m going to have a damned holiday tonight.” He turned and went out into the moonlight. “M’ling!” he cried. “M’ling, old friend!”

Three dim creatures in the silvery light came along the edge of the wan beach,—one a white-wrapped creature, the other two blotches of blackness following it. They halted, staring. Then I saw M’ling’s hunched shoulders as he came round the corner of the house.

Three shadowy creatures moved along the edge of the pale beach in the silvery light. One was wrapped in white. The other two followed as dark shapes. They stopped and stared. Then I saw M’ling’s hunched shoulders as he came around the corner of the house.

“Drink!” cried Montgomery, “drink, you brutes! Drink and be men! Damme, I’m the cleverest. Moreau forgot this; this is the last touch. Drink, I tell you!” And waving the bottle in his hand he started off at a kind of quick trot to the westward, M’ling ranging himself between him and the three dim creatures who followed.

“Drink!” cried Montgomery. “Drink, you brutes! Drink and be men! Damn it, I’m the cleverest. Moreau forgot this. This is the final touch. Drink, I tell you!” Waving the bottle in his hand, he set off at a quick trot toward the west. M’ling moved between him and the three shadowy creatures following them.

I went to the doorway. They were already indistinct in the mist of the moonlight before Montgomery halted. I saw him administer a dose of the raw brandy to M’ling, and saw the five figures melt into one vague patch.

I went to the doorway. They were already hard to make out in the misty moonlight before Montgomery stopped. I saw him give M’ling a dose of undiluted brandy. Then I saw the five figures melt into one vague shape.

“Sing!” I heard Montgomery shout,—“sing all together, ‘Confound old Prendick!’ That’s right; now again, ‘Confound old Prendick!’”

“Sing!” I heard Montgomery shout. “Everyone sing together, ‘Confound old Prendick!’ That's right. Now again, ‘Confound old Prendick!’”

The black group broke up into five separate figures, and wound slowly away from me along the band of shining beach. Each went howling at his own sweet will, yelping insults at me, or giving whatever other vent this new inspiration of brandy demanded. Presently I heard Montgomery’s voice shouting, “Right turn!” and they passed with their shouts and howls into the blackness of the landward trees. Slowly, very slowly, they receded into silence.

The dark group broke into five figures, who slowly wound away from me along the shining beach. Each howled as he pleased, yelping insults at me or giving in to whatever other impulse the brandy inspired. Soon I heard Montgomery shout, “Right turn!” They passed into the darkness of the trees inland, still shouting and howling. Slowly, very slowly, their voices faded into silence.

The peaceful splendour of the night healed again. The moon was now past the meridian and travelling down the west. It was at its full, and very bright riding through the empty blue sky. The shadow of the wall lay, a yard wide and of inky blackness, at my feet. The eastward sea was a featureless grey, dark and mysterious; and between the sea and the shadow the grey sands (of volcanic glass and crystals) flashed and shone like a beach of diamonds. Behind me the paraffine lamp flared hot and ruddy.

The peaceful beauty of the night returned and soothed me again. The moon had passed its highest point and was moving westward. It was full and very bright in the empty blue sky. At my feet, the wall cast a shadow a yard wide and as black as ink. To the east, the sea was a featureless grey, dark and mysterious. Between the sea and the shadow lay grey sand made of volcanic glass and crystals. It flashed and shone like a beach of diamonds. Behind me, the paraffin lamp burned hot and red.

Then I shut the door, locked it, and went into the enclosure where Moreau lay beside his latest victims,—the staghounds and the llama and some other wretched brutes,—with his massive face calm even after his terrible death, and with the hard eyes open, staring at the dead white moon above. I sat down upon the edge of the sink, and with my eyes upon that ghastly pile of silvery light and ominous shadows began to turn over my plans. In the morning I would gather some provisions in the dingey, and after setting fire to the pyre before me, push out into the desolation of the high sea once more. I felt that for Montgomery there was no help; that he was, in truth, half akin to these Beast Folk, unfitted for human kindred.

Then I shut and locked the door and went into the enclosure. Moreau lay there beside his latest victims: the staghounds, the llama, and some other wretched animals. His massive face was calm even after his terrible death. His hard eyes were open, staring at the dead white moon above. I sat down on the edge of the sink and looked at that ghastly pile of silvery light and ominous shadows. I began to consider my plans. In the morning, I would gather some provisions in the dinghy. After setting fire to the pyre before me, I would push out again into the desolation of the open sea. I felt that nothing could help Montgomery. In truth, he was half akin to these Beast Folk and unfit for human company.

I do not know how long I sat there scheming. It must have been an hour or so. Then my planning was interrupted by the return of Montgomery to my neighbourhood. I heard a yelling from many throats, a tumult of exultant cries passing down towards the beach, whooping and howling, and excited shrieks that seemed to come to a stop near the water’s edge. The riot rose and fell; I heard heavy blows and the splintering smash of wood, but it did not trouble me then. A discordant chanting began.

I don't know how long I sat there making plans. It must have been about an hour. Then Montgomery returned to the area, interrupting my thoughts. I heard many voices yelling in triumph as they moved toward the beach. There were whoops, howls, and excited shrieks that seemed to stop near the water's edge. The uproar rose and fell. I heard heavy blows and the crashing sound of splintering wood, but it didn't trouble me then. A harsh, jumbled chant began.

My thoughts went back to my means of escape. I got up, brought the lamp, and went into a shed to look at some kegs I had seen there. Then I became interested in the contents of some biscuit-tins, and opened one. I saw something out of the tail of my eye,—a red figure,—and turned sharply.

My thoughts returned to how I might escape. I got up, took the lamp, and went into a shed to look at some kegs I had seen there. Then I became curious about what was in some biscuit tins and opened one. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something, a red figure, and turned sharply.

Behind me lay the yard, vividly black-and-white in the moonlight, and the pile of wood and faggots on which Moreau and his mutilated victims lay, one over another. They seemed to be gripping one another in one last revengeful grapple. His wounds gaped, black as night, and the blood that had dripped lay in black patches upon the sand. Then I saw, without understanding, the cause of my phantom,—a ruddy glow that came and danced and went upon the wall opposite. I misinterpreted this, fancied it was a reflection of my flickering lamp, and turned again to the stores in the shed. I went on rummaging among them, as well as a one-armed man could, finding this convenient thing and that, and putting them aside for to-morrow’s launch. My movements were slow, and the time passed quickly. Insensibly the daylight crept upon me.

Behind me lay the yard, sharply black and white in the moonlight. Moreau and his mutilated victims lay on a pile of wood and branches, one on top of another. They seemed to be gripping each other in one last struggle for revenge. His wounds gaped, black as night, and the blood that had dripped onto the sand lay in black patches. Then I saw what had caused my phantom, though I did not understand it. A reddish glow danced across the opposite wall and disappeared. I misunderstood it, thinking it was a reflection of my flickering lamp, and turned back to the supplies in the shed. I kept searching through them as well as a one-armed man could. I found one useful thing after another and set them aside for tomorrow’s launch. I moved slowly, and time passed quickly. Without my noticing, daylight crept in.

The chanting died down, giving place to a clamour; then it began again, and suddenly broke into a tumult. I heard cries of, “More! more!” a sound like quarrelling, and a sudden wild shriek. The quality of the sounds changed so greatly that it arrested my attention. I went out into the yard and listened. Then cutting like a knife across the confusion came the crack of a revolver.

The chanting faded into an uproar. Then it began again and suddenly erupted into chaos. I heard cries of “More! more!” and what sounded like an argument. Then came a sudden, wild shriek. The sounds changed so much that they caught my attention. I went out into the yard and listened. Then the crack of a revolver cut through the noise like a knife.

I rushed at once through my room to the little doorway. As I did so I heard some of the packing-cases behind me go sliding down and smash together with a clatter of glass on the floor of the shed. But I did not heed these. I flung the door open and looked out.

I rushed through my room to the small doorway. As I did, I heard some packing crates slide down behind me. They crashed together on the shed floor with a clatter of glass. But I paid no attention. I flung the door open and looked out.

Up the beach by the boathouse a bonfire was burning, raining up sparks into the indistinctness of the dawn. Around this struggled a mass of black figures. I heard Montgomery call my name. I began to run at once towards this fire, revolver in hand. I saw the pink tongue of Montgomery’s pistol lick out once, close to the ground. He was down. I shouted with all my strength and fired into the air. I heard some one cry, “The Master!” The knotted black struggle broke into scattering units, the fire leapt and sank down. The crowd of Beast People fled in sudden panic before me, up the beach. In my excitement I fired at their retreating backs as they disappeared among the bushes. Then I turned to the black heaps upon the ground.

Up the beach by the boathouse, a bonfire burned, sending sparks into the dim light of dawn. A mass of dark figures struggled around it. I heard Montgomery call my name. I immediately ran toward the fire, revolver in hand. I saw a pink flash from Montgomery’s pistol, close to the ground. He was down. I shouted with all my strength and fired into the air. I heard someone cry, “The Master!” The tangled mass of struggling figures broke apart and scattered. The fire flared up and then sank down. The crowd of Beast People suddenly fled in panic before me, up the beach. In my excitement, I fired at their backs as they disappeared among the bushes. Then I turned to the dark heaps on the ground.

Montgomery lay on his back, with the hairy-grey Beast-man sprawling across his body. The brute was dead, but still gripping Montgomery’s throat with its curving claws. Near by lay M’ling on his face and quite still, his neck bitten open and the upper part of the smashed brandy-bottle in his hand. Two other figures lay near the fire,—the one motionless, the other groaning fitfully, every now and then raising its head slowly, then dropping it again.

Montgomery lay on his back, with the hairy gray Beast-man sprawled across his body. The brute was dead, but its curved claws still gripped Montgomery’s throat. Nearby, M’ling lay face down, completely still. His neck had been bitten open, and he held the upper part of the smashed brandy bottle in his hand. Two other figures lay near the fire. One was motionless. The other groaned from time to time, slowly raising its head and then dropping it again.

I caught hold of the grey man and pulled him off Montgomery’s body; his claws drew down the torn coat reluctantly as I dragged him away. Montgomery was dark in the face and scarcely breathing. I splashed sea-water on his face and pillowed his head on my rolled-up coat. M’ling was dead. The wounded creature by the fire—it was a Wolf-brute with a bearded grey face—lay, I found, with the fore part of its body upon the still glowing timber. The wretched thing was injured so dreadfully that in mercy I blew its brains out at once. The other brute was one of the Bull-men swathed in white. He too was dead. The rest of the Beast People had vanished from the beach.

I grabbed the grey man and pulled him off Montgomery’s body. As I dragged him away, his claws reluctantly slid down Montgomery’s torn coat. Montgomery’s face was dark, and he was barely breathing. I splashed seawater on his face and rested his head on my rolled-up coat. M’ling was dead. The wounded creature by the fire was a Wolf-brute with a bearded grey face. I found it lying with the front of its body on the still glowing wood. The poor creature was so terribly injured that I immediately shot it in the head to end its suffering. The other brute was one of the Bull-men, wrapped in white. He was dead too. The rest of the Beast People had vanished from the beach.

I went to Montgomery again and knelt beside him, cursing my ignorance of medicine. The fire beside me had sunk down, and only charred beams of timber glowing at the central ends and mixed with a grey ash of brushwood remained. I wondered casually where Montgomery had got his wood. Then I saw that the dawn was upon us. The sky had grown brighter, the setting moon was becoming pale and opaque in the luminous blue of the day. The sky to the eastward was rimmed with red.

I went back to Montgomery and knelt beside him, cursing my lack of medical knowledge. The fire beside me had burned down. Only charred beams remained, their inner ends glowing among the gray ashes of brushwood. I wondered idly where Montgomery had gotten the wood. Then I saw that dawn was upon us. The sky had grown brighter, and the setting moon was turning pale and dull against the bright blue of day. The eastern edge of the sky was red.

Suddenly I heard a thud and a hissing behind me, and, looking round, sprang to my feet with a cry of horror. Against the warm dawn great tumultuous masses of black smoke were boiling up out of the enclosure, and through their stormy darkness shot flickering threads of blood-red flame. Then the thatched roof caught. I saw the curving charge of the flames across the sloping straw. A spurt of fire jetted from the window of my room.

Suddenly I heard a thud and a hissing sound behind me. I turned and sprang to my feet with a cry of horror. Great, churning clouds of black smoke boiled out of the enclosure against the warm dawn. Flickering threads of blood-red flame shot through the stormy darkness. Then the thatched roof caught fire. I saw the flames sweep in a curve across the sloping straw. A burst of fire shot from the window of my room.

I knew at once what had happened. I remembered the crash I had heard. When I had rushed out to Montgomery’s assistance, I had overturned the lamp.

I knew right away what had happened. I remembered the crash I had heard. When I rushed out to help Montgomery, I had knocked over the lamp.

The hopelessness of saving any of the contents of the enclosure stared me in the face. My mind came back to my plan of flight, and turning swiftly I looked to see where the two boats lay upon the beach. They were gone! Two axes lay upon the sands beside me; chips and splinters were scattered broadcast, and the ashes of the bonfire were blackening and smoking under the dawn. Montgomery had burnt the boats to revenge himself upon me and prevent our return to mankind!

It was obvious that nothing inside the enclosure could be saved. My thoughts returned to my plan to escape. I turned quickly to look for the two boats on the beach. They were gone! Two axes lay on the sand beside me. Chips and splinters were scattered everywhere, and the ashes of the bonfire lay black and smoking in the dawn light. Montgomery had burned the boats to get revenge on me and prevent us from returning to mankind!

A sudden convulsion of rage shook me. I was almost moved to batter his foolish head in, as he lay there helpless at my feet. Then suddenly his hand moved, so feebly, so pitifully, that my wrath vanished. He groaned, and opened his eyes for a minute. I knelt down beside him and raised his head. He opened his eyes again, staring silently at the dawn, and then they met mine. The lids fell.

A sudden surge of rage shook me. I almost wanted to smash his foolish head as he lay helpless at my feet. Then his hand moved, so weakly and so pitifully that my anger vanished. He groaned and opened his eyes for a moment. I knelt beside him and raised his head. He opened his eyes again and stared silently at the dawn. Then his eyes met mine. His eyelids closed.

“Sorry,” he said presently, with an effort. He seemed trying to think. “The last,” he murmured, “the last of this silly universe. What a mess—”

“Sorry,” he said after a while, with an effort. He seemed to be trying to think. “The last,” he murmured, “the last of this silly universe. What a mess...”

I listened. His head fell helplessly to one side. I thought some drink might revive him; but there was neither drink nor vessel in which to bring drink at hand. He seemed suddenly heavier. My heart went cold. I bent down to his face, put my hand through the rent in his blouse. He was dead; and even as he died a line of white heat, the limb of the sun, rose eastward beyond the projection of the bay, splashing its radiance across the sky and turning the dark sea into a weltering tumult of dazzling light. It fell like a glory upon his death-shrunken face.

I listened. His head fell helplessly to one side. I thought a drink might revive him, but there was no drink nearby, nor any container to bring it in. He suddenly seemed heavier. My heart went cold. I bent down to his face and put my hand through the tear in his blouse. He was dead. Just as he died, the edge of the sun rose in the east, a line of white heat beyond the point of the bay. Its light spread across the sky and turned the dark sea into a churning turmoil of dazzling light. The light fell like a glory on his face, shrunken in death.

I let his head fall gently upon the rough pillow I had made for him, and stood up. Before me was the glittering desolation of the sea, the awful solitude upon which I had already suffered so much; behind me the island, hushed under the dawn, its Beast People silent and unseen. The enclosure, with all its provisions and ammunition, burnt noisily, with sudden gusts of flame, a fitful crackling, and now and then a crash. The heavy smoke drove up the beach away from me, rolling low over the distant tree-tops towards the huts in the ravine. Beside me were the charred vestiges of the boats and these five dead bodies.

I gently laid his head on the rough pillow I had made for him and stood up. Before me lay the glittering emptiness of the sea, where I had already suffered so much in terrible isolation. Behind me, the island was quiet in the dawn. Its Beast People were silent and out of sight. The enclosure was burning noisily, along with all its provisions and ammunition. Flames flared up, the fire crackled unevenly, and now and then something crashed. Thick smoke blew up the beach away from me. It rolled low over the distant treetops toward the huts in the ravine. Beside me lay the charred remains of the boats and the five dead bodies.

Then out of the bushes came three Beast People, with hunched shoulders, protruding heads, misshapen hands awkwardly held, and inquisitive, unfriendly eyes, and advanced towards me with hesitating gestures.

Then three Beast People came out of the bushes. They had hunched shoulders, jutting heads, and misshapen hands held awkwardly. Their eyes were curious and unfriendly. They moved toward me hesitantly.