BESIEGED.
The behavior of the chimpanzee, as well as his own good common sense,
which he had had time to recover since the adventure in the marsh, told
Philip that it would be useless longer to fly from his enemies. He was
in a building constructed with especial reference to safety from outside
foes, and by barricading himself in the series of rooms which led from
the kitchen to the parlor he might be able to stand a siege of many days.
It is true he had no reason to expect aid, since it seemed most likely
Captain Seaworth’s party had been massacred; but yet time to wait for the
coming of human companions was the one thing desired, and to such end he
made every preparation.
On this, as well as on the other side of the building, each window had
heavy wooden shutters which could be closed from the inside, and the
doors were sufficiently stout to resist any attack which might be made
by the apes. As a matter of course, a determined body of men with the
proper tools could soon effect an entrance; but it was hardly probable
the animals would be able to break in after the place was once properly
fortified.
Philip understood that there was no time to be lost, for at any moment
Goliah and his forces might return. Therefore his first act was to shut
and barricade the three doors leading to the veranda. Then the heavy
shutters of the windows were closed and bolted, half a dozen candles were
lighted, and the fortification was as nearly complete as he could make it.
He now experienced a sense of security such as had not visited him since
the moment when he was thrown upon these inhospitable shores. There was
on hand sufficient food to last a long time, and he felt safe from any
immediate danger.
The one thing needful at this moment was slumber, and with a mind free
from apprehensions he made up such a bed in the dining-room as even a
less weary youth would not have disdained, closing his eyes in peaceful
sleep almost instantly after lying down.
He awakened in a calmer frame of mind than he had known since the time
when the good bark Swallow first encountered the gale, and was fully
alive to all the possibilities of his situation. He had no difficulty in
coming to the conclusion that so long as he was destined to remain on the
island he would be exposed to a vengeance worse than death at the hands
of those whom he had once treated as articles of merchandise. At present
he believed himself to be perfectly secure; but as a matter of course,
if he should dare to venture forth it would be to become the object of
renewed attacks, which very likely would end only in his death.
It was with such thoughts that his mind was occupied as he took from the
kitchen cupboard a fresh supply of candles to replace those long since
consumed, and then examined his miniature fortress to see if there was
any vulnerable point of attack which he had overlooked.
There was a second story, and through this it might be possible the apes
could effect an entrance, therefore he lost no time in examining the
upper portion of his refuge.
The rooms above were of the same size as those on the ground-floor; but
directly over the corner was a small bell-tower open on all four sides,
and entered by a trap-door. This last was secured by two iron bolts
which shut into mortices in the main timbers of the building, and, as he
believed, were sufficiently strong to resist any ordinary attack.
It was in this corner apartment over the parlor that Captain Seaworth
had established his private office, and, strange to say, it had thus far
escaped the observation of the apes. Everything was in the most complete
order. The books, papers and boxes which filled the shelves on either
side were as the commander of the ill-fated colony had left them. On
the writing-desk lay an unfinished letter to the stockholders of the
corporation, probably abandoned when the writer was called upon to resist
this army of apes.
It was not necessary for Philip to close the heavy window-shutters, for
they were already bolted, and in each was a sort of Venetian blind about
four inches square, which permitted a view of the surrounding country
while the spectator remained hidden.
Before examining further Philip looked from these loop-holes, and to his
dismay saw that he was already besieged.
At every point of vantage on the outside his enemies were posted. On the
elevations of land in the immediate vicinity, the branches of the trees,
and even the tops of the surrounding buildings, were groups of apes, who
watched this portion of the house as if understanding that in it was
hidden the human animal from whom they expected such rare entertainment
or revenge.
There could be no question but that they were on the _qui vive_, and at
the slightest movement of their captive would begin an attack. It was the
silent siege of an enemy who did not consider it necessary to conceal
himself behind his lines of defense.
Philip viewed the scene much as does a general when surveying a
battle-field. For the apes to climb up the sides of the house, whereon
were no projecting points, he knew was an impossibility, as it also was
for them to effect an entrance through the barricaded doors and windows.
To reach the tower from the adjoining buildings would not be difficult
for such agile climbers; but once there their opportunities for attack
would be no better than on the street below.
That Goliah was preparing for battle seemed hardly probable, since it is
not generally believed that animals know anything concerning warfare;
but yet he was certainly bringing up his troops in the most soldier-like
fashion. From the loop-holes Philip could see company after company
marching to this point or that in regular order; and no less than twenty
of the larger baboons, each wearing a saber by his side, were making
regular rounds of the clearing, as if inspecting the troops.
To give it more the appearance of a regular siege, only certain of these
long-tailed warriors were on watch, the others remaining close at hand
in readiness to open the battle at the first warning cry. These idle
ones were amusing themselves in a variety of ways. Some were wrestling,
others playing leap-frog, and not a few apparently interested in
story-telling—at least so it seemed to Philip in this latter case, for
parties of from fifteen to twenty were gathered around some venerable
monkey who appeared to be talking very earnestly.
Now and then Goliah would harangue the troops in the same manner as he
had addressed those composing the court-martial, and that he was making
direct reference to the house and its occupant could be told from the
fact that he frequently pointed to those on guard as well as to the
building, finally going through a series of threatening gestures, as if
explaining what he proposed to do when the time for action should come.
But for Philip’s knowledge of how nearly apes can copy the movements
of men he would have laughed at the baboons’ antics; but yet he could
not bring himself to believe his fortifications were in danger of being
carried, or that the enemy would make any real assault.
It seemed only reasonable to suppose the brutes would not continue very
long a siege which he could well sustain, according to the contents of
his larder, for many weeks; therefore, being tranquil in mind, he could
afford to examine leisurely his place of refuge.
A search resulted in his finding quite as much food for the mind as for
the body, which was a great boon, considering the length of time he
might be confined in this limited space. The apartment directly over the
kitchen had been fitted up as a library and lounging-room, probably for
the benefit of Captain Seaworth’s officers, and here was a collection of
books of travel.
In such an out-of-the-way corner of the world these silent companions
would be of the utmost value even in the case of those who enjoyed
freedom of action, but to Philip in his present condition they were rare
treasures.
His investigations in this quarter were ended for the time being, and
descending to the kitchen, he made such a breakfast of canned provisions
as was in the highest degree satisfactory, washing it down with moderate
draughts of light wine. Then he betook himself once more to Captain
Seaworth’s private office in the hope of finding something which would
give him a clew to the reasons why the island had thus been left to
Goliah and his followers.
A single written line indicating a combined attack of the apes would
explain why a large body of men had been overcome by the animals; yet,
armed as the colonists undoubtedly were, able to shelter themselves
behind the walls of the buildings, it did not seem as if any number of
the monkey-tribe could vanquish such a force as he knew had made their
headquarters on this island.
Yet it appeared as if such must have been the case, and Philip searched
among the papers in the hope of solving the riddle.
There were statements of moneys paid to the laborers, a detailed account
of the erection of all the buildings, together with mention of the time
occupied in unloading the vessel, dates as to when the crops had been
planted, memoranda to show what portion of the jungle was intended should
be cleared, and in fact all the minutiæ of the business connected with
establishing the colony, but no word relative to such enemies as Philip
had encountered.
Not until he was about to abandon the search did he find that for which
he sought. A large book lying carelessly at one side of the room had
hitherto escaped his observation because it seemed to be of little
importance, and he opened it without any idea that it might be the
document for which he had been hunting so eagerly.
The first page was sufficient to arrest his attention, for on it was
written, in bold letters, and in round, clear characters:
_Log of the ship Reynard, and Journal of my stay at Luzon._
Here was what Philip had been most anxious to find, and without thought
of the grinning faces which were keeping close watch over the building
he seated himself in an arm-chair, believing the mystery was about to be
solved.