A Catastrophe

Scarcely six weeks passed before I had lost every feeling but dislike and abhorrence for this infamous experiment of Moreau’s. My one idea was to get away from these horrible caricatures of my Maker’s image, back to the sweet and wholesome intercourse of men. My fellow-creatures, from whom I was thus separated, began to assume idyllic virtue and beauty in my memory. My first friendship with Montgomery did not increase. His long separation from humanity, his secret vice of drunkenness, his evident sympathy with the Beast People, tainted him to me. Several times I let him go alone among them. I avoided intercourse with them in every possible way. I spent an increasing proportion of my time upon the beach, looking for some liberating sail that never appeared,—until one day there fell upon us an appalling disaster, which put an altogether different aspect upon my strange surroundings.

In less than six weeks, I felt nothing but dislike and horror for Moreau’s infamous experiment. All I wanted was to escape these horrible caricatures of my Maker’s image and return to the pleasant, healthy company of humans. In my memory, the fellow humans I was separated from began to seem perfectly good and beautiful. My early friendship with Montgomery grew no stronger. His long separation from humanity, his secret drinking, and his obvious sympathy for the Beast People made him seem tainted to me. Several times, I let him go among them alone. I avoided contact with them in every way I could. I spent more and more time on the beach, looking for a sail that might set me free. None ever appeared. Then, one day, a terrible disaster struck us, casting my strange surroundings in a completely different light.

It was about seven or eight weeks after my landing,—rather more, I think, though I had not troubled to keep account of the time,—when this catastrophe occurred. It happened in the early morning—I should think about six. I had risen and breakfasted early, having been aroused by the noise of three Beast Men carrying wood into the enclosure.

The catastrophe happened about seven or eight weeks after I landed. I think it was a little longer, though I had not bothered to keep track of time. It happened early in the morning, around six, I think. I had gotten up and eaten breakfast early because three Beast Men carrying wood into the enclosure had awakened me.

After breakfast I went to the open gateway of the enclosure, and stood there smoking a cigarette and enjoying the freshness of the early morning. Moreau presently came round the corner of the enclosure and greeted me. He passed by me, and I heard him behind me unlock and enter his laboratory. So indurated was I at that time to the abomination of the place, that I heard without a touch of emotion the puma victim begin another day of torture. It met its persecutor with a shriek, almost exactly like that of an angry virago.

After breakfast I went to the open gateway of the enclosure. I stood there smoking a cigarette and enjoying the fresh early morning air. Soon Moreau came around the corner of the enclosure and greeted me. He passed me, and I heard him unlock and enter his laboratory behind me. By then I had become so hardened to the horrors of the place that I felt nothing when the puma began another day of torture. It greeted its tormentor with a shriek, almost exactly like that of an angry, shrewish woman.

Then suddenly something happened,—I do not know what, to this day. I heard a short, sharp cry behind me, a fall, and turning saw an awful face rushing upon me,—not human, not animal, but hellish, brown, seamed with red branching scars, red drops starting out upon it, and the lidless eyes ablaze. I threw up my arm to defend myself from the blow that flung me headlong with a broken forearm; and the great monster, swathed in lint and with red-stained bandages fluttering about it, leapt over me and passed. I rolled over and over down the beach, tried to sit up, and collapsed upon my broken arm. Then Moreau appeared, his massive white face all the more terrible for the blood that trickled from his forehead. He carried a revolver in one hand. He scarcely glanced at me, but rushed off at once in pursuit of the puma.

Then suddenly something happened. To this day, I do not know what it was. I heard a short, sharp cry behind me, then a fall. I turned and saw a terrible face rushing toward me. It was neither human nor animal, but hellish. It was brown, lined with branching red scars, with red drops appearing on it. Its lidless eyes blazed. I raised my arm to defend myself, but the blow broke my forearm and sent me sprawling. The great monster leaped over me and went on. It was wrapped in surgical dressing, with bloodstained bandages fluttering around it. I rolled over and over down the beach. I tried to sit up, but collapsed onto my broken arm. Then Moreau appeared. His massive white face looked even more terrible with blood trickling from his forehead. He carried a revolver in one hand. He barely glanced at me, but rushed off at once in pursuit of the puma.

I tried the other arm and sat up. The muffled figure in front ran in great striding leaps along the beach, and Moreau followed her. She turned her head and saw him, then doubling abruptly made for the bushes. She gained upon him at every stride. I saw her plunge into them, and Moreau, running slantingly to intercept her, fired and missed as she disappeared. Then he too vanished in the green confusion. I stared after them, and then the pain in my arm flamed up, and with a groan I staggered to my feet. Montgomery appeared in the doorway, dressed, and with his revolver in his hand.

I tried my other arm and sat up. The wrapped figure ahead bounded along the beach in great strides, with Moreau following her. She turned and saw him, then suddenly changed direction and headed for the bushes. She pulled farther ahead with every stride. I saw her plunge into the bushes. Moreau ran diagonally to cut her off and fired as she disappeared, but he missed. Then he too vanished into the tangled greenery. I stared after them. Then the pain in my arm flared up, and I groaned as I staggered to my feet. Montgomery appeared in the doorway, dressed and holding his revolver.

“Great God, Prendick!” he said, not noticing that I was hurt, “that brute’s loose! Tore the fetter out of the wall! Have you seen them?” Then sharply, seeing I gripped my arm, “What’s the matter?”

“Great God, Prendick!” he said, without noticing that I was hurt. “That brute’s loose! It tore the shackle out of the wall! Have you seen them?” Then he saw me gripping my arm and asked sharply, “What’s the matter?”

“I was standing in the doorway,” said I.

“I was standing in the doorway,” I said.

He came forward and took my arm. “Blood on the sleeve,” said he, and rolled back the flannel. He pocketed his weapon, felt my arm about painfully, and led me inside. “Your arm is broken,” he said, and then, “Tell me exactly how it happened—what happened?”

He came forward and took my arm. “Blood on the sleeve,” he said, and rolled back the flannel. He put his weapon in his pocket, felt around my arm, hurting me, and led me inside. “Your arm is broken,” he said. Then he asked, “Tell me exactly how it happened. What happened?”

I told him what I had seen; told him in broken sentences, with gasps of pain between them, and very dexterously and swiftly he bound my arm meanwhile. He slung it from my shoulder, stood back and looked at me.

I told him what I had seen in broken sentences, gasping with pain between them. Meanwhile, he quickly and skillfully bandaged my arm. He put it in a sling over my shoulder, then stepped back and looked at me.

“You’ll do,” he said. “And now?”

“You’ll do,” he said. “And now?”

He thought. Then he went out and locked the gates of the enclosure. He was absent some time.

He thought for a moment. Then he went out and locked the gates of the enclosure. He was gone for some time.

I was chiefly concerned about my arm. The incident seemed merely one more of many horrible things. I sat down in the deck chair, and I must admit swore heartily at the island. The first dull feeling of injury in my arm had already given way to a burning pain when Montgomery reappeared. His face was rather pale, and he showed more of his lower gums than ever.

I was mostly worried about my arm. The incident seemed like just one more horrible thing among many. I sat down in the deck chair and, I must admit, cursed the island roundly. The dull ache in my arm had already turned into a burning pain when Montgomery reappeared. His face was rather pale, and he showed more of his lower gums than ever.

“I can neither see nor hear anything of him,” he said. “I’ve been thinking he may want my help.” He stared at me with his expressionless eyes. “That was a strong brute,” he said. “It simply wrenched its fetter out of the wall.” He went to the window, then to the door, and there turned to me. “I shall go after him,” he said. “There’s another revolver I can leave with you. To tell you the truth, I feel anxious somehow.”

“I can’t see or hear any sign of him,” he said. “I’ve been thinking he may need my help.” He stared at me with expressionless eyes. “That was a strong brute,” he said. “It simply pulled its chain out of the wall.” He went to the window, then to the door, where he turned to me. “I’ll go after him,” he said. “There’s another revolver I can leave with you. To tell you the truth, I feel anxious somehow.”

He obtained the weapon, and put it ready to my hand on the table; then went out, leaving a restless contagion in the air. I did not sit long after he left, but took the revolver in hand and went to the doorway.

He got the weapon and put it on the table within my reach. Then he went out, leaving a contagious restlessness in the air. I did not sit long after he left. I picked up the revolver and went to the doorway.

The morning was as still as death. Not a whisper of wind was stirring; the sea was like polished glass, the sky empty, the beach desolate. In my half-excited, half-feverish state, this stillness of things oppressed me. I tried to whistle, and the tune died away. I swore again,—the second time that morning. Then I went to the corner of the enclosure and stared inland at the green bush that had swallowed up Moreau and Montgomery. When would they return, and how? Then far away up the beach a little grey Beast Man appeared, ran down to the water’s edge and began splashing about. I strolled back to the doorway, then to the corner again, and so began pacing to and fro like a sentinel upon duty. Once I was arrested by the distant voice of Montgomery bawling, “Coo-ee—Moreau!” My arm became less painful, but very hot. I got feverish and thirsty. My shadow grew shorter. I watched the distant figure until it went away again. Would Moreau and Montgomery never return? Three sea-birds began fighting for some stranded treasure.

The morning was as still as death. Not a breath of wind stirred. The sea was like polished glass, the sky was empty, and the beach was deserted. Half excited and half feverish, I felt oppressed by the stillness. I tried to whistle, but the tune died away. I swore again, for the second time that morning. Then I went to the corner of the enclosure. I stared inland at the green bushes that had swallowed up Moreau and Montgomery. When would they return, and how? Then a little grey Beast Man appeared far up the beach. He ran down to the water’s edge and began splashing about. I strolled back to the doorway, then to the corner again. I began pacing back and forth like a guard on duty. At one point, I stopped when I heard Montgomery shouting in the distance, “Coo-ee, Moreau!” My arm hurt less, but it became very hot. I grew feverish and thirsty. My shadow grew shorter. I watched the distant figure until he went away again. Would Moreau and Montgomery never return? Three sea-birds began fighting over some treasure left on the beach.

Then from far away behind the enclosure I heard a pistol-shot. A long silence, and then came another. Then a yelling cry nearer, and another dismal gap of silence. My unfortunate imagination set to work to torment me. Then suddenly a shot close by. I went to the corner, startled, and saw Montgomery,—his face scarlet, his hair disordered, and the knee of his trousers torn. His face expressed profound consternation. Behind him slouched the Beast Man, M’ling, and round M’ling’s jaws were some queer dark stains.

Then I heard a pistol shot from far away behind the enclosure. After a long silence, another shot followed. Then came a yell, closer this time, followed by another miserable stretch of silence. My imagination began to torment me. Suddenly, a shot rang out close by. Startled, I went to the corner and saw Montgomery. His face was bright red, his hair was disheveled, and the knee of his trousers was torn. He looked deeply distressed. Behind him slouched the Beast Man, M’ling. There were strange dark stains around M’ling’s jaws.

“Has he come?” said Montgomery.

“Has he come?” said Montgomery.

“Moreau?” said I. “No.”

“Moreau?” I said. “No.”

“My God!” The man was panting, almost sobbing. “Go back in,” he said, taking my arm. “They’re mad. They’re all rushing about mad. What can have happened? I don’t know. I’ll tell you, when my breath comes. Where’s some brandy?”

“My God!” The man was panting, almost sobbing. “Go back inside,” he said, taking my arm. “They’re mad. They’re all rushing around like mad. What could have happened? I don’t know. I’ll tell you when I catch my breath. Where’s some brandy?”

Montgomery limped before me into the room and sat down in the deck chair. M’ling flung himself down just outside the doorway and began panting like a dog. I got Montgomery some brandy-and-water. He sat staring in front of him at nothing, recovering his breath. After some minutes he began to tell me what had happened.

Montgomery limped into the room ahead of me and sat down in the deck chair. M’ling threw himself down just outside the doorway and began panting like a dog. I got Montgomery some brandy and water. He sat staring at nothing as he caught his breath. After a few minutes, he began to tell me what had happened.

He had followed their track for some way. It was plain enough at first on account of the crushed and broken bushes, white rags torn from the puma’s bandages, and occasional smears of blood on the leaves of the shrubs and undergrowth. He lost the track, however, on the stony ground beyond the stream where I had seen the Beast Man drinking, and went wandering aimlessly westward shouting Moreau’s name. Then M’ling had come to him carrying a light hatchet. M’ling had seen nothing of the puma affair; had been felling wood, and heard him calling. They went on shouting together. Two Beast Men came crouching and peering at them through the undergrowth, with gestures and a furtive carriage that alarmed Montgomery by their strangeness. He hailed them, and they fled guiltily. He stopped shouting after that, and after wandering some time farther in an undecided way, determined to visit the huts.

He had followed their trail for some distance. At first, it was easy to see because of the crushed and broken bushes. White rags from the puma’s bandages and occasional smears of blood also marked the leaves and undergrowth. But he lost the trail on the stony ground beyond the stream where I had seen the Beast Man drinking. He wandered aimlessly westward, shouting Moreau’s name. Then M’ling came to him carrying a small hatchet. M’ling had seen nothing of what had happened with the puma. He had been cutting wood and had heard Montgomery calling. They went on shouting together. Two Beast Men came crouching and peering at them through the undergrowth. Their gestures and sneaking manner were so strange that they alarmed Montgomery. He called out to them, and they fled as if guilty. After that, he stopped shouting. He wandered on for some time, unsure what to do, before deciding to visit the huts.

He found the ravine deserted.

He found the ravine empty.

Growing more alarmed every minute, he began to retrace his steps. Then it was he encountered the two Swine-men I had seen dancing on the night of my arrival; blood-stained they were about the mouth, and intensely excited. They came crashing through the ferns, and stopped with fierce faces when they saw him. He cracked his whip in some trepidation, and forthwith they rushed at him. Never before had a Beast Man dared to do that. One he shot through the head; M’ling flung himself upon the other, and the two rolled grappling. M’ling got his brute under and with his teeth in its throat, and Montgomery shot that too as it struggled in M’ling’s grip. He had some difficulty in inducing M’ling to come on with him. Thence they had hurried back to me. On the way, M’ling had suddenly rushed into a thicket and driven out an under-sized Ocelot-man, also blood-stained, and lame through a wound in the foot. This brute had run a little way and then turned savagely at bay, and Montgomery—with a certain wantonness, I thought—had shot him.

Growing more alarmed by the minute, he began to retrace his steps. Then he encountered the two Swine-men I had seen dancing on the night I arrived. Their mouths were stained with blood, and they were intensely excited. They came crashing through the ferns, then stopped and glared fiercely when they saw him. He cracked his whip nervously, and they immediately rushed at him. No Beast Man had ever dared to do that before. He shot one through the head. M’ling threw himself at the other, and the two rolled on the ground, grappling. M’ling pinned the brute down and sank his teeth into its throat. As it struggled in M’ling’s grip, Montgomery shot it too. He had some difficulty persuading M’ling to come with him. Then they hurried back to me. On the way, M’ling suddenly rushed into a thicket and drove out a small Ocelot-man. He too was blood-stained and limping from a wound in his foot. The brute ran a little way, then turned to face them savagely. Montgomery shot him. I thought there was a certain wantonness in that.

“What does it all mean?” said I.

“What does it all mean?” I said.

He shook his head, and turned once more to the brandy.

He shook his head and turned back to the brandy.