DISAGREEABLE NEIGHBORS.
Philip continued his flight, regardless either of fatigue or the insects,
through the brambles which tore his flesh until, on passing half-around
a slight elevation which was covered with a greenish white moss, he came
upon a lake fully a mile in length, and bordered by tall trees.
As nearly as could be judged he had traveled at least three miles, and in
this secluded and lovely spot, which was so surrounded by foliage as to
render it impossible for him to peer into the thicket further than two or
three feet, it surely seemed as if he was safe from his late tormentors.
The sensation of thirst was by this time so intense as to be almost
painful, and the sight of the clear, sparkling water revived his spirits
to a wonderful degree.
Running forward eagerly, he knelt on the soft turf at the edge of the
lake, and remained in that position ten or fifteen minutes, drinking at
intervals like one at a feast who is satisfied but delays leaving the
festive-board because of the enjoyment of looking at the delicacies.
With his thirst assuaged Philip’s hopes revived. He believed it would be
possible to avoid the apes on an island of such extent as this appeared
to be; and when he finally raised his head it was to look about him for
the purpose of deciding in which direction he would find refuge and
shelter for the night.
As he did so, however, a cry of dismay burst from his lips. On either
hand for a distance of many yards were the very apes from whom he was
trying to escape. All were kneeling as he knelt, and raising their heads
exactly as he raised his, with the water running in streams from their
muzzles.
No doubt they followed him through the thicket, or made their way
overhead among the branches; but since the stick with which he had
threatened them was not in sight, all idea of punishing the intruder was
forgotten. Their faculties of imitation proved greater than the love for
mischief, and thus, while he congratulated himself upon having escaped,
they had gathered noiselessly around him.
However dangerous the animal-trader’s position, he could not restrain a
loud burst of laughter at the grotesque scene before him; but his mirth
was very quickly turned to surprise when he heard the sounds of his own
voice echoed from five hundred pairs of lungs.
This mockery aroused still further his mirth, and he laughed yet louder,
the apes redoubling their efforts until it seemed as if each hairy throat
was swollen almost to bursting.
It was an orchestra of the tropics with a leader who had no pride in the
achievements of his subordinates.
As Philip sat up on his heels so did the animals, and with their heads
raised high in their effort to emulate what they possibly thought was a
song, a bright blue object around the throats of fifteen or twenty of the
larger apes attracted the shipwrecked boy’s attention.
It was hardly probable that the long-tailed denizens of the woods were
educated to the fashion of wearing neckties, but yet there could be no
question that these select few had on such an article of adornment.
Not until after several moments did Philip understand how prominent a
part his own neckerchief was playing in the scene. Each of the apes
thus decorated had secured a fragment of the cravat, and, true to their
imitative instincts, tied it around his neck.
Now that his strange companions were in apparently such a friendly mood,
Philip thought it possible, by abstaining from any threatening movements,
to get on with some degree of comfort, even though they still continued
to surround him.
To sleep just then was out of the question, for the smaller members
of the party were yet struggling to laugh, and he looked around for
something with which to appease his hunger, which had increased very
decidedly since his thirst was satisfied.
He gazed scrutinizingly along the borders of the lake, hoping to see at
least some fresh-water mussels. The apes did the same, although probably
not with a similar hope.
His eyes roamed among the foliage. So did those of his companions. He
saw on a number of trees near the water fruit of a bright yellow color,
resembling a crab-apple in shape. If the apes observed the same they made
no mention of the fact.
The trees were at least two hundred feet tall, with branches shooting
from their very tops, and to climb up these smooth trunks, where there
was not the slightest support for either hand or foot, was an utter
impossibility.
To throw a stone so high with any degree of accuracy would be rather a
difficult matter; but yet Philip resolved to try it. The shore of the
lake in certain places was covered with small, sharp, flint-like stones,
and thus there was plenty of ammunition at hand, even if he should be
forced to try very many times before succeeding.
The first shot was not a success. The stone, after striking the trunk of
the tree a few feet below the branches, bounded among the foliage with a
loud noise.
The apes, who had been intently watching all his movements, hardly waited
until the stone reached the ground before the entire party gathered
armfuls of stones and began to fling them at the topmost branches,
causing the leaves and fruit to fly in every direction.
The smaller animals, who could not send the missiles so high, formed
a chain, and passing the ammunition from hand to hand, supplied those
who were more skillful, until that particular portion of the forest was
almost entirely denuded of its foliage.
Impelled by his hunger Philip seized a handful of the small fruits, which
were evidently a species of guava, and began to eat eagerly.
At that instant the army of stone-throwers ceased their labor as each
gathered a supply of fruit, and began eating exactly as did their
human companion. When he raised one of the guavas to his mouth they
imitated his exact movement. When he chewed they worked their jaws most
industriously. When he ejected a seed from his mouth a perfect shower
of seeds fell upon the sand. If he threw away a stem they repeated the
action; and when, by chance, he made a smacking noise with his lips,
the shore of the lake resounded with such a snapping and clattering of
jaws as would have caused the “end-man” of a minstrel troupe to grow
exceedingly green with envy.
The abundant harvest which, when it was first gathered, gave promise of
supplying Philip with food for many days, was disposed of in a very few
moments. Before his hunger was satisfied the last guava had disappeared,
and the army of apes looked up expectantly, wondering what was to be the
next move in this queer sport.
It may seem comical to have one’s every gesture repeated by four or five
hundred long-tailed, human-like animals, but it soon becomes annoying, to
use the mildest term.
During fully fifteen minutes Philip sat silent and motionless, not daring
so much as to raise his finger lest ten or twelve hundred fingers should
be pointed toward him; and his companions observed the same immobility.
The approach of night, which comes on so rapidly in the tropics, gave
him plenty of food for reflection as he sat there surrounded by his
statue-like companions. To remain in the forest during the hours of
darkness with such a following was something that filled him with dread,
for it was impossible to say at what moment their capricious fancies
might lead to another attack, and he racked his brain in vain for some
answer to the vexed question.
He had every reason to believe that during the next day he should find
human beings who, however unfriendly, would at least relieve him of this
throng of attendants, for the island was apparently so large that it
seemed hardly probable it was uninhabited. Thus, according to his belief,
the only difficulties to be encountered were from this time until morning.
But how and where should the night be passed?