With stones in their hands, muzzles turned in the direction of the wind, outstretched necks, hair standing on end, and ears pricked up, the apes tried to realize what Philip himself would have been only too well pleased to understand.

There could be no question but that a vessel was near, yet there were many chances that Philip’s first explanation of the reason of the cannonading was not the true one.

In the cavern it was impossible to say that a tempest might not be raging, and the ship, having struck a reef, was signaling for assistance. Or, again, the Malay pirates were perhaps attacking some vessels close under the lee of the land. In fact, there were very many ways of explaining the reasons for this discharge of ordnance without attributing it to the return of the colonists, and Philip’s first flush of joy was immediately turned to anxiety.

Half an hour passed, during which the besiegers remained like statues, gazing toward the sea; and then, to Philip’s intense relief and almost overwhelming happiness, came the sound of human voices.

[245]

The apes appeared to be more and more astonished. The greater number looked frightened, and were already seeking with furtive glances favorable openings for immediate flight. Goliah alone remained firm; but it was possible to tell from the expression of his face that he shared very sensibly in the alarm of his subjects.

Five minutes more passed, and Philip fancied he could hear the tramp of many feet in the distance, when Goliah gave vent to a shrill, piercing whistle, and in an instant every one of the besiegers disappeared. Not a single ape remained in front of the grotto, and only for a few seconds could Philip see their vanishing tails as they sought refuge in the thicket.

Now, instead of trying to fill up the tunnel, those in the subterranean chamber began tearing away at the rocks with feverish energy; and five minutes later Philip, followed by the two chimpanzees, emerged from the grotto into one of the broad roads built under his supervision as king, down which could be seen a large body of men, in the immediate vicinity of the village.

To run forward at the swiftest possible pace was the most natural thing for Philip to do, and in a few moments he was standing before Captain Seaworth, muttering incoherent words expressive of his deep joy, while the two chimpanzees followed close behind him, looking as if they also were relieved in mind by the coming of human beings.

The appearance of Philip, covered as he was with[246] the fragments of an ape’s skin, caused the most profound astonishment among those who had just landed.

They looked upon him as if believing that he was a veritable wild man, and not a few gave way at his approach, fearing he might inflict some injury upon them.

Although Captain Seaworth and several of his officers were well acquainted with Philip Garland, the animal-trainer, they failed to recognize in this forlorn-looking specimen of humanity the once prosperous merchant, and after gazing at him several moments in undisguised astonishment the captain asked, sternly:

“Who are you?”

“A shipwrecked youth, whose life has been in danger during the past three months.”

“One would say you were more ape than human,” the captain replied with a smile.

“And so I have been; but now the time has come when I can assume my proper place among human beings. This hide is not mine.”

“Which is lucky for you,” one of the officers added, and several laughed heartily, “otherwise we might think it a deed of charity to finish skinning you.”

Then Captain Seaworth, looking at the chimpanzees as if he recognized them, asked:

“How comes it that you have adopted two of my former pets as your servants?”

“These are animals which I once owned and[247] trained, and afterward sold to you, captain,” Philip said laughingly; and the gentleman, looking up quickly, repeated:

“You sold them to me?”

“Yes. I am, or at least I was, Philip Garland, dealer in wild animals, and sold you these chimpanzees, together with a baboon which I wish had been killed years ago.”

It is needless to describe the astonishment caused by these words. In this youth, only partially covered with the tattered skin of an ape, and with matted and disheveled hair, the officers of the Reynard began to distinguish some familiar features, and a moment later Philip was overwhelmed with questions.

To tell his story would require no slight amount of time, and he proposed that it be delayed until a more fitting moment, for he, in turn, was eager to learn the reasons of the colonists’ sudden departure; therefore he said:

“Inasmuch as your leaving the island has caused me no slight amount of uneasiness and mystification, and can be told more quickly than my story, suppose you first explain. This evening you shall learn the particulars of my reign, for during at least half of my stay here I have been king of the apes.”

“It will require but a few words to clear up what has seemed a mystery if, as I p............