Therewasapauseintheoutcry,andfromHans’mouthcameanimitationofasnake’shiss,soperfectthatIalmostsprungtomyfeetThesustainedmurderoussoundranalongthedeck,andthewrenchingatthebarsceasedTheorang-outangwasquakinginanecstasyofpureterror。
“Dotstophim。”saidHans“IlearneddottrickinMogoungTanjongwhenIwascollectingliddlemonkeysforsomepeoplesinBerlinEferyoneinderworldisafraidofdermonkeysexceptdersnakeSoIblaysnakeagainstmonkey,andhekeepquitestill。
DerewastoomuchEgoinhisCosmosDotisdersoul-customofmonkeysAreyouasleep,orwillyoulisten,andIwilltelladaledotyoushallnotpelief?”
“There’snotaleinthewideworldthatIcan’tbelieve。”Isaid。
“IfyouhavelearnedpeliefyouhaflearnedsomedingsNowI
shalltryyourpeliefGood!WhenIwascollectingdoseliddlemonkeys-itwasin’79or’80,undIwasinderislandsofderArchipelago-overdereinderdark“-hepointedsouthwardtoNewGuineagenerally-“MeinGott!IwouldsoonercollectlifereddevilsthanliddlemonkeysWhendeydonotbiteoffyourthumbsdeyarealwaysdyingfromnostalgia-homesick-fordeyhafderimperfectsoul,whichismidwayarrestedindefelopment-undtoomuchEgoIwasderefornearlyayear,unddereIfoundamandotwascalledBertranHewasaFrenchman,undhewasagootman-naturalisttotheboneDeysaidhewasanescapedconvict,buthewasanaturalist,unddotwasenoughformeHewouldcallallherlifebeastsfromderforests,unddeywouldcomeIsaidhewasStFrancisofAssisiinanewdransmigrationproduced,undhelaughedundsaidhehalneverpreachtoderfishesHesolddemfortripang-beche-de-mer。
“Unddotman,whowaskingofbeasts-tamermen,hehadinderhouseshushsuchanoderasdotdevil-animalindercage-agreatorang-outangdotthoughthewasamanHehaffoundhimwhenhewasachild-derorang-outang-undhewaschildandbrotherandoperacomiqueallroundtoBertranHehadhisroomindothouse-notacage,butaroom-mitabedandsheets,andhewouldgotobedandgetupindermorningandsmokehiscigarundeathisdinnermitBertran,undwalkmithimhand-in-hand,which。
wasmosthorribleHerrGott!IhafseendotbeastthrowhimselfbackinhischairandlaughwhenBertranhafmadefunofmeHewasnotabeast;hewasaman,andhetalkedtoBertran,undBertrancomprehended,forIbaveseendemUndhewasalwayspolitefultomeexceptwhenItalktoolongtoBertranundsaynodingsatalltohimDenhewouldpullmeaway-disgreat,darkdevil,mithisenormouspaws~hushasifIwasachildHewasnotabeast,hewasamanDisIsawpeforeIknowhimthreemonths,undBertranhehafsawthesame;andBimi,derorang-outang,bafunderstoodusboth,mithiscigarbetweenhisbig-dogteethundderbluegum。
“Iwasdereayear,dereundatdereoderislands-somedimesformonkeysandsomedimesforbutterfliesundorchitsOnetimeBertransaystomedothewillbemarried,becauseheha~foundagirldotwasgoot,andheinquireifthismarryingideawasrightI
wouldnotsay,pecauseitwasnotmedotwasgoingtobemarried。
Denhegooffcourtingdergirl-shewasahalf-casteFrenchgirl-
veryprettyHafyougotanewlightformycigar?Oof!VeryprettyOnlyIsay’HafyouthoughtofBimi?IfhepullsmeawaywhenItalktoyou,whatwillhedotoyourwife?HewillpullherinpiecesIfIwasyou,Bertran,IwouldgifmywifeforweddingpresentderstufffigureofBimi。’BydottimeIbadlearnedsomedingsaboutdermonkeypeoples’Shoothim?’saysBertran。
’Heisyourbeast,’Isaid;’ifhewasminehewouldbeshotnow。’
“DenIfeltatderbackofmyneckderfingersofBimiMeinGott!ItellyoudothetalkedthroughdosefingersItwasderdeaf-and-dumbalphabetallgompleteHeslidehishairyarmroundmyneck,andhetiltupmychinandlookintomyface,shusttoseeifIunderstoodhistalksowellasheunderstoodmine。
“’Seenowdere!’saysBertran,’undyouwouldshoothimwhileheiscuddlingyou?DotisderTeutoningrate!’
“ButIknewdotIhadmadeBimialife’senemy,pecausehisfingershaftalkmurderthroughthebackofmyneckNextdimeI
seeBimiderewasapistolinmybelt,undhetouchitonce,andI
opendebreechtoshowhimitwasloadedHehafseenderliddlemonkeyskilledinderwoods,andheunderstood。
“SoBertranhewasmarried,andheforgotcleanaboutBimidotwasskippin’aloneonthebeachmitderhafofahumansoulinhisbellyIwasseehimskip,undhetookabigboughundthrashdersandtillhehafmadeagreatholelikeagraveSoIsaystoBertran’Foranysakes,killBimiHeismadmitderjealousy。’
“Bertranhafsaid:’HeisnotmadatallHehafobeyandlovemywife,undifshespeakshewallgetherslippers,’undhelookedathiswifeacrossderroomShewasaveryprettygirl。
“DenIsaidtohim:’Dostthoupretendtoknowmonkeysunddisbeastdotislashinghimselfmadupondersands,pecauseyoudonottalktohim?Shoothimwhenhecomestoderhouse,forhehafderlightinhiseyesdotmeanskilling-undkilling。’Bimicometoderhouse,butderewasnolightinhiseyesItwasallputaway,cunning-socunning-undhefetchdergirlherslippers,andBertranturntomeundsay:’DostthouknowhiminninemonthsmoredanIhafknownhimntwelveyears?Shallachildstabhisfader?I
havefedhim,undhewasmychildDonotspeakthisnonsensetomywifeortomeanymore。’
“DotnextdayBertrancametomyhousetohelpmemakesomewoodcasesforderspecimens,undhetellmedothehaflefthiswifealiddlewhilemitBimiindergardenDenIfinishmycasesquick,undIsay:’Letusgotoyourhouseundgetatrink。’Helaughundsay:’Comealong,drymans。’
“Hiswifewasnotindergarden,undBimididnotcomewhenBertrancalledUndhiswifedidnotcomewhenhecalled,undheknockedatherbedroomdoorunddotwasshuttight-lockedDenhelookedatme,undhisfacewaswhiteIbrokedownderdoormitmyshoulder,undderthatchofderroofwastornintoagreathole,unddersuncameinuponderfloorHafyoueverseenpaperinderwaste-basket,orcardsatwhistondertablescattered?DerewasnowifedotcouldbeseenItellyouderewasnoddingsindotroomdotmightbeawomanDerewasstuffonderfloor,unddotwasallIlookedatdesethingsundIwasverysick;butBertranlookedalittlelongeratwhatwasuponthefloorundderwalls,undderholeinderthatchDenhepegantolaugh,softandlow,undI
knowundthankGoddothewasmadHenefercried,heneferprayedHestoodstillinderdoorwayundlaughtohim-selfDenhesaid:’Shehaflockedherselfindisroom,andhehaftornupderthatchFidoncDotissoWewillmendderthatchundwaitforBimiHewillsurelycome。’
“Itellyouwewaitedtendaysindothouse,afterderroomwasmadeintoaroomagain,andonceortwicewesawBimicomm’aliddlewayfromderwoodsHewasafraidpecausehehafdonewrongBertrancalledhimwhenhewascometolookonthetenthday,undBimicomeskippingalongderbeachundmakingnoises,mitalongpieceofNackhairinhishandsDenBertranlaughandsay,’Fidond’shustasifitwasaglassbrokenupondertable;undBimicomenearer,undBertranwashoney-sweetinhisvoiceandlaughedtohimselfForthreedayshemadelovetoBimi,pecauseBimiwouldnotlethimselfbetouchedDenBimicometodinneratdersametablemitus,undderhaironhishandswasallblackundthickmit-mitwhathaddriedonhishandsBertrangavehimsangareetillBimiwasdrunkandstupid,undden-“
Hanspausedtopuffathiscigar。
“Andthen?”saidI。
“UnddenBertrankillhimwithhishands,undIgoforawalkuponderheachItwasBertran’sownpizinessWhenIcomebackderapehewasdead,undBertranhewasdyingabofehim;butstillhelaughedaliddleundlow,andhewasquitecontentNowyouknowderformulaufderstrengthofderorang-outang-itismoreasseventooneinrelationtomanButBertran,hehafkilledBimimitsoochdingsasGottgifhimDotwasdermericle。”
Theinfernalclamorinthecagerecommenced“Aba!DotfriendofourshafstilltoomuchEgoinhisCosmos,Bequiet,thou!”
HanshissedlongandvenomouslyWecouldhearthegreatbeastquakinginhiscage。
“Butwhyintheworlddidn’tyouhelpBertraninsteadoflettinghimbekilled?”Iasked。
“Myfriend。”saidHans,composedlystretchinghimselftoslumber,“itwasnotniceeventomineselfdotIshouldlifafterIhadseendotroomwitderholeinderthatchUndBertran,hewasherhusbandGood-night,undsleepwell。”
NAMGAYDOOLA
ONCEuponatimetherewasakingwholivedontheroadtoThibet,verymanymilesintheHimalayaMountainsHiskingdomwas11,000feetabovethesea,andexactlyfourmilessquare,butmostofthemilesstoodonend,owingtothenatureofthecountry。
Hisrevenueswereratherlessthan400poundsyearly,andtheywereexpendedonthemaintenanceofoneelephantandastandingarmyoffivemenHewastributarytotheIndiangovernment,whoallowedhimcertainsumsforkeepingasectionoftheHimalaya-
ThibetroadinrepairHefurtherincreasedhisrevenuesbysellingtimbertotherailwaycompanies,forhewouldcutthegreatdeodartreesinhisownforestaridtheyfellthunderingintotheSutlejRiverandweresweptdowntothePlains,300milesaway,andbecamerailwaytiesNowandagainthisking,whosenamedoesnotmatter,wouldmountaring-streakedhorseandridescoresofmilestoSimlatowntoconferwiththelieutenant-governoronmattersofstate,orassuretheviceroythathisswordwasattheserviceofthequeen-empressThentheviceroywouldcausearuffleofdrumstobesoundedandthering-streakedhorseandthecavalryofthestate-twomenintatters-andtheheraldwhoboretheSilverStickbeforethekingwouldtrotbacktotheirownplace,whichwasbetweenthetailofaheaven-climbingglacierandadarkbirchforest。
Now,fromsuchaking,alwaysrememberingthathepossessedoneveritableelephantandcouldcounthisdescentfor1,200years,I
expected,whenitwasmyfatetowanderthroughhisdominions,nomorethanmerelicensetolive。
Thenighthadclosedinrain,androllingcloudsblottedoutthelightsofthevillagesinthevalleyFortymilesaway,untouchedbycloudorstorm,thewhiteshoulderofDongoPa-theMountainoftheCounciloftheGods-upheldtheeveningstarThemonkeyssungsorrowfullytoeachotherastheyhuntedfordryrootsinthefern-drapedtrees,andthelastpuffoftheday-windbroughtfromtheunseenvillagesthescentofdampwoodsmoke,hotcakes,drippingundergrowth,androttingpine-conesThatsmellisthetruesmelloftheHimalayas,andifitoncegetsintothebloodofamanhewill,atthelast,forgettingeverythingelse,returntotheHillstodieThecloudsclosedandthesmellwentaway,andthereremainednothinginalltheworldexceptchillingwhitemistsandtheboomoftheSutlejRiver。
Afat-tailedsheep,whodidnotwanttodie,bleatedlamentablyatmytent-doorHewasscufflingwiththeprimeministerandthedirector-generalofpubliceducation,andhewasaroyalgifttomeandmycampservantsIexpressedmythankssuitablyandinquiredifImighthaveaudienceofthekingTheprimeministerreadjustedhisturban-ithadfallenoffinthestruggle-andassuredmethatthekingwouldbeverypleasedtoseemeThereforeI
dispatchedtwobottlesasaforetaste,andwhenthesheephadentereduponanotherincarnation,climbeduptotheking’spalacethroughthewetHehadsenthisarmytoescortme,butitstayedtotalkwithmycookSoldiersareverymuchalikealltheworldover。
Thepalacewasafour-roomed,white-washedmud-and-timberhouse,thefinestinalltheHillsforaday’sjourneyThekingwasdressedinapurplevelvetjacket,whitemuslintrousers,andasaffron-yellowturbanofpriceHegavemeaudienceinalittlecarpetedroomopeningoffthepalacecourt-yard,whichwasoccupiedbytheelephantofstateThegreatbeastwassheetedandanchoredfromtrunktotail,andthecurveofhisbackstoodoutagainsttheskyline。
Theprimeministerandthedirector-generalofpublicinstructionwerepresenttointroduceme;butallthecourthadbeendismissedlestthetwobottlesaforesaidshouldcorrupttheirmoralsThekingcastawreathofheavy,scentedflowersroundmyneckasIbowed,andinquiredhowmyhonoredpresencehadthefelicitytobeI
saidthatthroughseeinghisauspiciouscountenancethemistsofthenighthadturnedintosunshine,andthatbyreasonofhisbeneficentsheephisgooddeedswouldberememberedbythegodsHesaidthatsinceIhadsetmymagnificentfootinhiskingdomthecropswouldprobablyyieldseventypercentmorethantheaverageIsaidthatthefameofthekinghadreachedtothefourcornersoftheearth,andthatthenationsgnashedtheirteethwhentheyhearddailyofthegloryofhisrealmandthewisdomofhismoon-likeprimeministerandlotus-eyeddirector-