Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

A terrible beast appeared on the island of Fina. It can be said that this is the most worrying thing for people who have been thrown here by bad luck. Godfrey,—perhaps he was wrong,—didn't think it right to keep what had just happened from Tutley. "A bear!" exclaimed the Professor, looking around him with horror, as if all around Will Tree had been attacked by a pack of such beasts. "How can there be a bear? Till now we have had no bears on our island! If there were one, there might be several, perhaps even a whole pack of other beasts: leopards, leopards, tigers, hyenas, lions!"

Tatley had seen Fina Island thrown into a whole zoo with broken cages. Godfrey replied that there should be no exaggeration.He'd seen a bear, that's for sure.Why he had never seen such a beast appear until then, when he had walked through the forests of the island, he could not explain to himself, and it was hard to explain.It is, however, an exaggeration to conclude from this that beasts of all kinds are now multiplying rapidly in the forests and steppes.It's best to be cautious, though, and only go out if you're fully armed. Poor Tatley!From that day on, he began a life of restlessness, agitation, apprehension, and inexplicable fear, which made him homesick to the extreme.

"No," he repeated, "No! If there is a Beast... I'm tired, I'm leaving!" This has to be possible. Henceforth, Godfrey and his companions must therefore remain vigilant.The attack may not only occur in the direction of the seaside and grasslands, but may reach as far as the group of giant sequoias.Therefore, strict measures were taken to protect the residence from surprise attacks.The door was solidly reinforced, making it resistant to the claws of a ferocious beast.As for the domestic animals, Godfrey would have liked to have built them a barn in which they could be kept at least at night, but this would not be an easy task.Therefore, the best thing to do is to keep them in a cut-off enclosure next to the Weir tree, so that they cannot get out.But that fence wasn't strong enough or high enough to stop a bear or a hyena from pushing it over or going over it.

Nevertheless, Godfrey hoped to prevent a direct attack at all times, since Carefinotu continued to keep vigil outside at night despite the insistence on him. Of course, Karefinodu claims to be a guard of the Will Tree and sleeps out, but he certainly understands that he is serving his savior, and, regardless of what Godfrey may say to him, he insists on Stay vigil as usual for everyone's safety. A week passed without seeing a single such dreadful visitor anywhere near.In addition, Godfrey no longer stays away from the residence unless necessary.And the eunuchs, goats, and other animals graze in the nearby grasslands, keeping them out of sight.Often, Carrefinodu took the place of shepherd.He never touched a rifle because he didn't seem to know how to use a firearm, but he had a hunting knife in his belt and an ax in his right hand.Armed like this, this beefy black man won't hesitate to pounce on a tiger or any worst animal of all.

However, since neither bear nor any bear kin had reappeared since the last encounter, Godfrey began to stop worrying.Gradually he returned to prospecting and hunting, but no longer into the interior of the island, and during this time, while the Negro accompanied him, Tartlett was tightly shut in the Weir Tree, not daring to venture out, even That's going to a dance class!On other occasions, when Godfrey set off alone, the professor had a companion, who devoted himself obstinately to his education. yes!Tatley first thought of teaching Carrefinotou the most common words in the English language; but he had to give up, the Negro's speech organs seemed too unadapted to such pronunciation.

"Then," thought Tatley, "since I can't be his professor, I'll be his student!" So he came to learn the local dialect spoken by Carrefinodu. Godfrey told him it wouldn't do them much good, but it didn't work, and Tutley wouldn't give up.He tried to make Karefinotou understand, to tell him in his own language the names of the things he showed him with his fingers. In fact, the student Tatley should be believed to have excellent talent, because, after 15 days, he already knew 15 words by heart.He knew that Carrefinodu said that "Pircy" means fire, "Aladou" means sky, "Melvela" means sea, "Dula" means a tree, and so on.He felt as proud as if he had won the highest award in Polynesia at a grand prix.

At that moment, out of a thought of gratitude, he wanted to thank his professor for what he had done for him—to stop trying to make him speak a few English words inaccurately, and to thank him Graceful manners and the true principles of European dance are instilled. At this point, Godfrey couldn't stop laughing!In short, it was a good time to pass, and on Sundays, when there was nothing else to do, he was happy to attend a class given by the famous Professor Tutley in San Francisco. Indeed, this should be seen!Poor Carrefinodu succumbed in blood and sweat to the basic drills of the dance!However, he was obedient and sincere; but, like all his kind.Does he have hunched shoulders, a protruding stomach, inward knees, inward feet?How about a "Fantley" or a "Saint Leon" for a savage of this stature!

In any case, the professor is wild.Besides, Carrefinodu, though tortured, was devout.All he had to endure was putting his feet in the first position, which is unimaginable!And when he has to transition to second and then third, it's another story! "But look at me, stubborn man!" cried Tutley, demonstrating, "Outward, feet! Outward still! Toe of one foot touches heel of the other! Spread your knees Head, bastard! Squeeze your shoulders, bastard! Head to the right! . . . arms rounded!  …” "But you can't do what you ask of him!" said Godfrey. "There is nothing impossible for a wise man!" replied Tatley invariably.

"But his form is not suitable for this...." "Well, it will fit, his form! It should, and, after a while, the barbarian will at least fit in a salon!" "But never, Tatley, never will he have the chance to appear in a salon!" "Hey! How do you know, Godfrey?" retorted the professor, standing on tiptoe again, "doesn't the future belong to a new class?" These are Tatley's closing remarks in all discussions.At this moment the Professor took up his pocket violin, on which his bow drew harsh little tunes, which were the joy of Carrefinotou.Nothing excited him more than this! —Don't worry about the rules of the dance, what a jump, what a free twist, what a joyful jump!

And the pensive Tatley, seeing the Polynesian child running around like this, wondered whether these dance steps, which might be a little too personal, were by no means inherent in man, although they did not conform to all artistic principles. But we let the dance and instrumentation professor do his philosophical thinking to get back to some more practical, timely questions. During his last excursions into the forest or plain, either alone or accompanied by Carefinotu, Godfrey had not seen a single other beast of prey.He didn't even find a trace of the animals.They should have gone to the river to quench their thirst, leaving no trace on the steep banks.No howl at night, no suspicious growl.Besides, the domestic animals showed no signs of panic, as before.

"It is strange," Godfrey thought sometimes, "but I was not mistaken! Karefinotou was not mistaken! It was a bear that appeared to me! It was a bear that I shot. Bear! Even if I kill him, is this bear the last representative of the family of foot-moving animals on this island?" This is absolutely inexplicable!Besides, if Godfrey had killed the bear, he should have recovered its body right where he shot it.However, he searched there in vain!Did he think that the mortally wounded animal had died in some distant den?After all, it was possible; and yet, in that place, at the foot of the tree, there should have been some blood, but there was not. "Anyway," thought Godfrey, "it doesn't matter, and we're always on the lookout!" The first few days of November were, so to speak, the beginning of the bad season in this strange place, and the chilly rain had been falling for hours.After that, it is very likely that it will continue to fall continuously, and it will continue underground for several weeks, showing the characteristics of the winter rainy season at this latitude. Godfrey was now obliged to busily install a stove in the Will-tree--an essential stove, both for heating the dwelling in winter, and for cooking in protection from the wind and rain. This stove can be set up in a corner of the room, between big stones, lay some stones on the flat ground, and pile some stones at the bottom.The problem was to get the smoke outside, because it wouldn't work the long narrow way through the inside of the sequoia to the top of the trunk. It then occurred to Godfrey to make a pipe out of some of the long, thick bamboos that grew in certain places on the steep banks of the river. It must be said that in that case he was very well assisted by Carrefinodu, the Negro who had a little trouble figuring out what Godfrey wanted, and when he went two miles beyond the Will Tree from When choosing among the thickest bamboo poles, he was the one who accompanied him; it was also he who helped him install the stove.The stones were placed on the innermost ground, facing the door; the bamboo poles were stripped of their contents, drilled through the bamboo joints, and connected one by one to form a passage of sufficient length, leading to an open Exit on giant sequoia bark.That was enough, as long as the night watchman kept the bamboo poles from the fire.Godfrey was soon satisfied that the fire was burning well without stinking the inside of the Will tree. He did the right thing to carry out this installation, and it was even more right to hurry up and do it. Indeed, from November 3rd to 10th the downpour continued uninterrupted.It is impossible to keep a fire alive in the open air.Had to stay in the shelter during these bleak days and only had to go out when the flock and chicken coop were in urgent need. In such cases, there is a shortage of stored Karma.This is the substance used in place of bread, and it soon becomes insufficient. So one day, November 10, Godfrey announced to Tatley that, in good weather, Karefinotou would go with him to gather kama.Never in a hurry to run two miles across a muddy prairie, Tatley was in charge of looking after the house when Godfrey was away. That night, however, the sky began to clear the huge clouds that had been built up by the westerly winds from the beginning of the month, the rain gradually died down, and the sun cast a few twilight rays.So expect that there will be improved weather that can be used urgently during the day the next day. "Tomorrow," said Godfrey, "I will set off at daylight, with Carrefinotou as my companion." "Okay." Tatley replied. Night fell, and after supper, as the air was swept away to reveal some shining stars, the negro thought to go outside and continue the usual watch which he had had to give up on the rainy night of the previous day.Godfrey tried to make him understand that it would be better to stay in the house without any added vigilance, since there were no signs of any other beasts, but Carrefinoto, obstinate with his idea, had to let him do it. The next day, as Godfrey had predicted, it had stopped raining since the previous night.So, near seven o'clock, when he came out of the Will Tree, the rising sun painted a pale gold on the thick vaults of those giant sequoias. Carrefinotou was at his post, he spent the night there, he waited, and at once, the two men, armed and with big sacks, said good-bye to Tatley, and set off for the river, They intended to go up the left bank of the river to the kama bush. An hour later, they arrived there without any difficulty. The roots had been dug up enough to fill two pockets.It took three hours, so it was about 11 o'clock in the morning when Godfrey and his partner started their way back to Will Tree. Walking one after the other, only to watch, because they could not talk, they came to a bend in the creek, where a large tree bowed above the river, arranged like a cradle of nature straddling the banks of the river. At this moment, Godfrey stopped suddenly. This time it was he who pointed out to Carefinotou a motionless animal that had stopped at the foot of a tree and whose eyes were then shining with a strange light. "A tiger!" he exclaimed. He saw it right, it was indeed a tall tiger, its body resting on its hind paws, it was peeling the trunk of a tree with its paws, and it was about to pounce. In an instant, Godfrey dropped the bundle of grass.Turned the rifle he was carrying to his right hand, loaded it, shouldered it, took aim, and fired. "Ulla! Ulla!" he cried. This time, he had nothing to suspect: the tiger, hit by the bullet, jumped back, but maybe it wasn't mortally wounded, maybe it was going to spring forward again, more furious from the wound ! ... Godfrey deflected the rifle, all the while threatening the animal with his second shot. But before Godfrey could hold Karefinotu, he ran to where the tiger had disappeared, his hunting knife in his hand. Godfrey told him to stop, to come back! ... But it was no use, the Negro was determined, even risking his life, to knot the animal that was probably only wounded, and he didn't hear or wouldn't hear him call him. Godfrey therefore rushed in his footsteps... When he reached the steep bank, he saw Karefinodu wrestling with the tiger, gripping it by the neck, struggling desperately, and, at last, striking with his mighty hand its heart. So the tiger fell into the small river, and the river, which had swelled due to the rain a few days ago, quickly swept it away in a torrent.The animal's carcass only floated on the water for a while before it was quickly swept out to sea. a bear!A tiger can no longer doubt that there are terrible beasts hiding on the island! During the period, Godfrey found out that the black man had only suffered a few minor abrasions during the fight after meeting up with Karefinodu.He then turns back to Will Tree.Full of worries about unexpected events that they may encounter in the future.