Alone With the Beast Folk

I faced these people, facing my fate in them, single-handed now,—literally single-handed, for I had a broken arm. In my pocket was a revolver with two empty chambers. Among the chips scattered about the beach lay the two axes that had been used to chop up the boats. The tide was creeping in behind me. There was nothing for it but courage. I looked squarely into the faces of the advancing monsters. They avoided my eyes, and their quivering nostrils investigated the bodies that lay beyond me on the beach. I took half-a-dozen steps, picked up the blood-stained whip that lay beneath the body of the Wolf-man, and cracked it. They stopped and stared at me.

I faced these people, and in them I faced my fate. I was on my own now, literally with only one hand, because I had a broken arm. In my pocket was a revolver with two empty chambers. The two axes used to chop up the boats lay among the chips scattered across the beach. The tide was creeping in behind me. I had no choice but to be brave. I looked straight into the faces of the approaching monsters. They avoided my eyes, and their nostrils quivered as they sniffed the bodies lying on the beach behind me. I took half a dozen steps and picked up the bloodstained whip lying beneath the Wolf-man’s body. I cracked it. They stopped and stared at me.

“Salute!” said I. “Bow down!”

“Salute!” I said. “Bow down!”

They hesitated. One bent his knees. I repeated my command, with my heart in my mouth, and advanced upon them. One knelt, then the other two.

They hesitated. One bent his knees. With my heart in my mouth, I repeated my command and moved toward them. One knelt, then the other two.

I turned and walked towards the dead bodies, keeping my face towards the three kneeling Beast Men, very much as an actor passing up the stage faces the audience.

I turned and walked toward the dead bodies, keeping my face toward the three kneeling Beast Men. I was much like an actor facing the audience while walking upstage.

“They broke the Law,” said I, putting my foot on the Sayer of the Law. “They have been slain,—even the Sayer of the Law; even the Other with the Whip. Great is the Law! Come and see.”

“They broke the Law,” I said, putting my foot on the Sayer of the Law. “They have been killed. Even the Sayer of the Law and the Other with the Whip have been killed. Great is the Law! Come and see.”

“None escape,” said one of them, advancing and peering.

“No one escapes,” said one of them, stepping forward and peering.

“None escape,” said I. “Therefore hear and do as I command.” They stood up, looking questioningly at one another.

“No one escapes,” I said. “So listen and do as I command.” They stood up, looking at one another questioningly.

“Stand there,” said I.

“Stand there,” I said.

I picked up the hatchets and swung them by their heads from the sling of my arm; turned Montgomery over; picked up his revolver still loaded in two chambers, and bending down to rummage, found half-a-dozen cartridges in his pocket.

I picked up the hatchets and hung them by their heads from my arm sling. I turned Montgomery over and picked up his revolver. It still had two loaded chambers. I bent down and searched his pocket, where I found six cartridges.

“Take him,” said I, standing up again and pointing with the whip; “take him, and carry him out and cast him into the sea.”

“Take him,” I said, standing up again and pointing with the whip. “Carry him out and throw him into the sea.”

They came forward, evidently still afraid of Montgomery, but still more afraid of my cracking red whip-lash; and after some fumbling and hesitation, some whip-cracking and shouting, they lifted him gingerly, carried him down to the beach, and went splashing into the dazzling welter of the sea.

They came forward, clearly still afraid of Montgomery, but even more afraid of my cracking red whip. After some fumbling and hesitation, and some whip-cracking and shouting, they carefully lifted him. They carried him down to the beach and splashed into the dazzling, churning sea.

“On!” said I, “on! Carry him far.”

“Go on!” I said. “Go on! Carry him far away.”

They went in up to their armpits and stood regarding me.

They went in up to their armpits and stood looking at me.

“Let go,” said I; and the body of Montgomery vanished with a splash. Something seemed to tighten across my chest.

“Let go,” I said. Montgomery's body vanished with a splash. Something seemed to tighten across my chest.

“Good!” said I, with a break in my voice; and they came back, hurrying and fearful, to the margin of the water, leaving long wakes of black in the silver. At the water’s edge they stopped, turning and glaring into the sea as though they presently expected Montgomery to arise therefrom and exact vengeance.

“Good!” I said, my voice breaking. They hurried back to the water’s edge, frightened, leaving long black wakes in the silver water. There they stopped and turned to glare at the sea. They seemed to expect Montgomery to rise from it at any moment and take revenge.

“Now these,” said I, pointing to the other bodies.

“Now these,” I said, pointing to the other bodies.

They took care not to approach the place where they had thrown Montgomery into the water, but instead, carried the four dead Beast People slantingly along the beach for perhaps a hundred yards before they waded out and cast them away.

They took care to avoid the place where they had thrown Montgomery into the water. Instead, they carried the four dead Beast People diagonally along the beach for perhaps a hundred yards. Then they waded into the water and threw the bodies away.

As I watched them disposing of the mangled remains of M’ling, I heard a light footfall behind me, and turning quickly saw the big Hyena-swine perhaps a dozen yards away. His head was bent down, his bright eyes were fixed upon me, his stumpy hands clenched and held close by his side. He stopped in this crouching attitude when I turned, his eyes a little averted.

As I watched them dispose of M’ling’s mangled remains, I heard light footsteps behind me. I turned quickly and saw the big Hyena-swine, perhaps a dozen yards away. His head was lowered, and his bright eyes were fixed on me. His stumpy hands were clenched and held close to his sides. When I turned, he stopped in that crouched position and looked slightly away.

For a moment we stood eye to eye. I dropped the whip and snatched at the pistol in my pocket; for I meant to kill this brute, the most formidable of any left now upon the island, at the first excuse. It may seem treacherous, but so I was resolved. I was far more afraid of him than of any other two of the Beast Folk. His continued life was I knew a threat against mine.

For a moment, we stood looking each other in the eye. I dropped the whip and grabbed the pistol in my pocket. I meant to kill this brute at the first excuse. He was the most formidable creature left on the island. That may seem treacherous, but I was determined to do it. I was much more afraid of him than of any other two of the Beast Folk. I knew that as long as he lived, my life was in danger.

I was perhaps a dozen seconds collecting myself. Then cried I, “Salute! Bow down!”

It took me perhaps twelve seconds to collect myself. Then I cried, “Salute! Bow down!”

His teeth flashed upon me in a snarl. “Who are you that I should—”

He bared his teeth at me in a snarl. “Who are you that I should...”

Perhaps a little too spasmodically I drew my revolver, aimed quickly and fired. I heard him yelp, saw him run sideways and turn, knew I had missed, and clicked back the cock with my thumb for the next shot. But he was already running headlong, jumping from side to side, and I dared not risk another miss. Every now and then he looked back at me over his shoulder. He went slanting along the beach, and vanished beneath the driving masses of dense smoke that were still pouring out from the burning enclosure. For some time I stood staring after him. I turned to my three obedient Beast Folk again and signalled them to drop the body they still carried. Then I went back to the place by the fire where the bodies had fallen and kicked the sand until all the brown blood-stains were absorbed and hidden.

Perhaps a little too jerkily, I drew my revolver, aimed quickly, and fired. I heard him yelp and saw him run sideways and turn. I knew I had missed, so I pulled back the hammer with my thumb for the next shot. But he was already running headlong, jumping from side to side. I dared not risk missing again. Every now and then, he looked back at me over his shoulder. He ran diagonally along the beach and disappeared beneath the thick clouds of smoke. They were still pouring out of the burning enclosure. I stood staring after him for some time. Then I turned back to my three obedient Beast Folk and signaled them to drop the body they were still carrying. I went back to the place by the fire where the bodies had fallen. I kicked the sand until all the brown bloodstains had soaked into it and were hidden.

I dismissed my three serfs with a wave of the hand, and went up the beach into the thickets. I carried my pistol in my hand, my whip thrust with the hatchets in the sling of my arm. I was anxious to be alone, to think out the position in which I was now placed. A dreadful thing that I was only beginning to realise was, that over all this island there was now no safe place where I could be alone and secure to rest or sleep. I had recovered strength amazingly since my landing, but I was still inclined to be nervous and to break down under any great stress. I felt that I ought to cross the island and establish myself with the Beast People, and make myself secure in their confidence. But my heart failed me. I went back to the beach, and turning eastward past the burning enclosure, made for a point where a shallow spit of coral sand ran out towards the reef. Here I could sit down and think, my back to the sea and my face against any surprise. And there I sat, chin on knees, the sun beating down upon my head and unspeakable dread in my mind, plotting how I could live on against the hour of my rescue (if ever rescue came). I tried to review the whole situation as calmly as I could, but it was difficult to clear the thing of emotion.

I waved my three serfs away and walked up the beach into the thickets. I carried my pistol in my hand, with my whip and hatchets in the sling on my arm. I wanted to be alone so I could think through the position I was now in. I was only beginning to realize something dreadful. Nowhere on the island was there a safe place where I could rest or sleep alone and secure. I had grown amazingly stronger since landing, but I was still prone to nervousness and breaking down under great stress. I felt I should cross the island and settle among the Beast People, and secure their trust. But I lost my nerve. I returned to the beach and turned east, passing the burning enclosure. I headed for a point where a shallow strip of coral sand reached out toward the reef. There I could sit and think, with my back to the sea and facing any threat that might surprise me. I sat there with my chin on my knees, the sun beating down on my head and unspeakable dread in my mind. I tried to work out how I could stay alive until I was rescued, if rescue ever came. I tried to consider the whole situation as calmly as I could, but it was hard to set my emotions aside.

I began turning over in my mind the reason of Montgomery’s despair. “They will change,” he said; “they are sure to change.” And Moreau, what was it that Moreau had said? “The stubborn beast-flesh grows day by day back again.” Then I came round to the Hyena-swine. I felt sure that if I did not kill that brute, he would kill me. The Sayer of the Law was dead: worse luck. They knew now that we of the Whips could be killed even as they themselves were killed. Were they peering at me already out of the green masses of ferns and palms over yonder, watching until I came within their spring? Were they plotting against me? What was the Hyena-swine telling them? My imagination was running away with me into a morass of unsubstantial fears.

I began to think about why Montgomery was so desperate. “They will change,” he said. “They are sure to change.” And Moreau, what had Moreau said? “The stubborn beast-flesh grows back again day by day.” Then I thought about the Hyena-swine. I felt sure that if I did not kill that brute, he would kill me. The Sayer of the Law was dead, worse luck. They now knew that we of the Whips could be killed just as they could. Were they already peering at me from the thick ferns and palms over there? Were they watching and waiting for me to come within reach of their attack? Were they plotting against me? What was the Hyena-swine telling them? My imagination was running away with me into a swamp of groundless fears.

My thoughts were disturbed by a crying of sea-birds hurrying towards some black object that had been stranded by the waves on the beach near the enclosure. I knew what that object was, but I had not the heart to go back and drive them off. I began walking along the beach in the opposite direction, designing to come round the eastward corner of the island and so approach the ravine of the huts, without traversing the possible ambuscades of the thickets.

My thoughts were interrupted by the cries of sea birds rushing toward a black object. The waves had washed it ashore near the enclosure. I knew what it was, but I couldn't bear to go back and drive the birds away. I began walking along the beach in the opposite direction. I planned to go around the eastern corner of the island and approach the ravine of the huts that way. That would let me avoid the thickets, where I might be ambushed.

Perhaps half a mile along the beach I became aware of one of my three Beast Folk advancing out of the landward bushes towards me. I was now so nervous with my own imaginings that I immediately drew my revolver. Even the propitiatory gestures of the creature failed to disarm me. He hesitated as he approached.

Perhaps half a mile along the beach, I saw one of my three Beast Folk coming toward me from the bushes inland. By now, my own imaginings had made me so nervous that I immediately drew my revolver. Even the creature’s attempts to reassure me did not persuade me to put it away. He hesitated as he approached.

“Go away!” cried I.

“Go away!” I cried.

There was something very suggestive of a dog in the cringing attitude of the creature. It retreated a little way, very like a dog being sent home, and stopped, looking at me imploringly with canine brown eyes.

The creature cowered in a way that reminded me of a dog. It backed away a little, like a dog being sent home. Then it stopped and looked at me pleadingly with its brown, doglike eyes.

“Go away,” said I. “Do not come near me.”

“Go away,” I said. “Do not come near me.”

“May I not come near you?” it said.

“Can I come near you?” it said.

“No; go away,” I insisted, and snapped my whip. Then putting my whip in my teeth, I stooped for a stone, and with that threat drove the creature away.

“No, go away,” I insisted, and snapped my whip. Then I put the whip between my teeth and bent down for a stone. With that threat, I drove the creature away.

So in solitude I came round by the ravine of the Beast People, and hiding among the weeds and reeds that separated this crevice from the sea I watched such of them as appeared, trying to judge from their gestures and appearance how the death of Moreau and Montgomery and the destruction of the House of Pain had affected them. I know now the folly of my cowardice. Had I kept my courage up to the level of the dawn, had I not allowed it to ebb away in solitary thought, I might have grasped the vacant sceptre of Moreau and ruled over the Beast People. As it was I lost the opportunity, and sank to the position of a mere leader among my fellows.

So I went alone around to the ravine of the Beast People. I hid among the weeds and reeds that separated the ravine from the sea. From there, I watched those who appeared. I tried to judge from their gestures and appearance how Moreau’s and Montgomery’s deaths and the destruction of the House of Pain had affected them. I know now how foolish my cowardice was. If I had kept the courage I had at dawn, and had not let it fade as I thought alone, I might have taken up Moreau’s vacant sceptre and ruled over the Beast People. Instead, I lost the opportunity and became merely a leader among my fellows.

Towards noon certain of them came and squatted basking in the hot sand. The imperious voices of hunger and thirst prevailed over my dread. I came out of the bushes, and, revolver in hand, walked down towards these seated figures. One, a Wolf-woman, turned her head and stared at me, and then the others. None attempted to rise or salute me. I felt too faint and weary to insist, and I let the moment pass.

Around noon, some of them came and squatted in the hot sand, basking in the sun. Hunger and thirst overcame my fear. I came out of the bushes and walked toward them, revolver in hand. One, a Wolf-woman, turned her head and stared at me. Then the others did too. None tried to get up or salute me. I felt too faint and tired to insist, so I let the moment pass.

“I want food,” said I, almost apologetically, and drawing near.

“I want food,” I said, almost apologetically, as I came closer.

“There is food in the huts,” said an Ox-boar-man, drowsily, and looking away from me.

“There is food in the huts,” said an Ox-boar-man sleepily, looking away from me.

I passed them, and went down into the shadow and odours of the almost deserted ravine. In an empty hut I feasted on some specked and half-decayed fruit; and then after I had propped some branches and sticks about the opening, and placed myself with my face towards it and my hand upon my revolver, the exhaustion of the last thirty hours claimed its own, and I fell into a light slumber, hoping that the flimsy barricade I had erected would cause sufficient noise in its removal to save me from surprise.

I passed them and went down into the shadows and smells of the nearly deserted ravine. In an empty hut, I feasted on some spotted, half-rotten fruit. Then I propped branches and sticks around the entrance. I lay facing it, with my hand on my revolver. Exhausted by the last thirty hours, I fell into a light sleep. I hoped anyone removing my flimsy barricade would make enough noise to keep me from being caught by surprise.