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masterman ready-第43部分

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oiling on the fire; however; Juno suspected him; and had hold of him just as he was taking the lid off the pot。 He was well scolded; and very much frightened lest he should have no soup for his dinner; however; as it was not a very heavy offence; he was forgiven。

In the evening; William requested his father to renew the conversation about the reasoning powers of animals。

〃With pleasure; William;〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave; 〃it is a fit discourse for a Sunday evening。 Let us; however; first examine the various mental faculties discoverable in animals。 In the first place; they have memory; especially memory of persons and places; quite as tenacious as our own。 A dog will recognize an old master after many years absence。 An elephant; who had again escaped into the woods; after twenty years remaining in a wild state; recognized his old mahoot; or driver。 A dog will find his way back when taken more than a hundred miles from his master's residence。 Another proof of memory in animals; were it required; is that they dream。 Now; a dream is a confused recollection of past events; and how often do you not hear Romulus and Remus growling; barking; and whining in their sleep!〃

〃Very true; papa。〃

〃Well; then; they have attention。 See how patiently a cat will remain for hours before a hole; in watch for the mouse to come out。 A spider will remain for months watching for the fly to enter its web; but this quality is to be observed in every animal in the pursuit of its prey。 They have also association of ideas; which is; in fact; reasoning。 A dog proves that; he will allow a gentleman to come up to the door; but fly at a beggar。 When he is in charge of any property he will take no notice of a passer…by; but if a man stops; he barks immediately。 In the elephant this association of ideas is even more remarkable; indeed; he understands what is said to him better than any other animal; his reasoning powers are most extraordinary。 Promise him rewards; and he will make wonderful exertion。 He is also extremely alive to a sense of shame。 The elephants were employed to transport the heavy artillery in India。 One of the finest attempted in vain to force a gun through a swamp。 ‘Take away that lazy beast;' said the director ‘and bring another。' The animal was so stung with the reproach; that it used so much exertion to force the gun on with its head; as to fracture its skull; and it fell dead。 When Chunee; the elephant which was so long in Exeter Change; was ordered as usual to take up a sixpence with his trunk; it happened one day that the sixpence rolled against the skirting…board; out of his reach。 Chunee stopped; and reflected a little while; and then; drawing the air into his trunk; he threw it out with all his force against the skirting…board; the rebound of the air from the skirting…board blew the sixpence towards him; and he was enabled to reach it。〃

〃That was very clever of him;〃 replied William。

〃Yes; it was a proof of thought; with a knowledge of cause and effect。 There was a curious instance of a horse; which; by the bye; I consider the most noble animal of creation; which was ridden round by his master; to deliver newspapers。 He invariably stopped at the doors where papers were to be left; but it happened that two people; living at different houses; took in a weekly newspaper between them; and it was agreed; that one should have the first reading of it on one week; and the other on the following。 After a short time the horse became accustomed to this arrangement; and stopped at the one house on the one week; and at the other house on the following; never making a mistake。〃

〃That was very curious; what a sagacious animal he must have been!〃 observed William。

〃Animals also are; as you know; capable of receiving instruction; which is another proof of reasoning powers。 The elephant; the horse; the dog; the pig; even birds may be taught a great deal。〃

〃But then; papa; I still wish to know where the line is to be drawn between reason and instinct。〃

〃I was about to come to that very point; William。 When animals follow their instinct in providing their food; bringing up their young; and in their precautions against danger; they follow certain fixed rules; from which they never deviate。 But circumstances may occur against which their instinct can afford them no regular provision; then it is that their reasoning powers are called into action。 I will explain this by stating a fact relative to the bee; one of the animals upon which instinct is most powerful in its action。 There is a certain large moth; called the Death's…head moth; which is very fond of honey。 It sometimes contrives to force its way through the aperture of the hive; and gain an entrance。 The bees immediately attack it; and it is soon destroyed by their stings; but the carcass is so large; that they cannot carry it out of the hive; as they invariably do the bodies of the smaller insects which may have intruded; and it appears that their sense of smell is very acute。 What; then; do they do to avoid the stench arising from the dead body of this large moth? Why; they embalm it; covering it entirely with wax; by which it no longer becomes offensive to them。〃

〃But; papa; might not their instinct have provided for such an event?〃 observed William。

〃If such an event could have occurred to the bees in their wild state; you certainly might have raised the question; but recollect; William; that bees in their wild state live in the hollows of trees; and that the hole by which they enter is never more than sufficiently large to admit one bee at a time; consequently; no animal larger than a bee could gain entrance; and if it did; could of course have been easily removed from the hive; but the bees were here in a new position; in an artificial state; in a hive of straw with a large aperture; and therefore met with an exigence they were not prepared for; and acted accordingly。〃

〃Yes; papa; I perceive the difference。〃

〃I will conclude my observations with one remark。 It appears to me; that although the Almighty has thought proper to vary the intellectual and the reasoning powers of animals in the same way that he has varied the species and the forms; yet even in this arrangement he has not been unmindful of the interest and welfare of man。 For you will observe; that the reasoning powers are chiefly; if not wholly; given to those animals which man subjects to his service and for his use … the elephant; the horse; and the dog; thereby making these animals of more value; as the powers given to them are at the service and under the control of man。〃



Chapter LV

On the Monday morning; William and Ready went away in the boat; as before; to bring round the various articles from the cove。 It had been arranged that they were not to return till the Saturday evening; and that the dog Remus was to bring intelligence of them and their welfare every afternoon。 They worked hard during the week; and on Saturday they had completed their task; with the exception of a portion of the timbers of the ship; everything had been brought round; but had not been carried up to the storehouse; as that required more time。

On Saturday morning; they went for the last time to the cove; and Ready selected some heavy oak timber out of the quantity which was lying on the beach; part of which they put into the boat; and the remainder they towed astern。 It was a heavy load; and although the wind was fair to sail hack again to the bay; the boat went but slowly through the water。

〃Well; William;〃 said Ready; 〃we have done a good week's work; and I must say it is high time that it is done; for the boat is in rather a crazy condition; and I must contrive to patch her up by and by; when there is time。〃

〃We shall not want to use her very much after this; Ready;〃 replied William; 〃a few trips round to the little harbour will be all that will be required before we come back again to our old quarters。〃

〃That's true; William; but she leaks very much; and at all events I'll give her a coat of pitch as soon as possible。 For a slight…built little thing as she is; she has done hard duty。〃

〃Pray; Ready; why; when you speak of a ship or boat; do you always call it she?〃

〃Well; William; I don't know why; but it is certain that we sailors always do so。 I believe it is because a sailor loves his ship。 His ship is his wife; is a very common saying with us; and then you see; Master William; a vessel is almost a thing of life in appearance。 I believe that's the reason; and of course if a vessel is she; a little boat must be a she also。〃

〃Well; I think you have explained it very well; Ready。 I suppose on Monday we shall set to at the storehouse; and alter it for our future residence?〃

〃Can't begin too soon; William;〃 replied Ready; 〃I don't doubt but Mr。 Seagrave has finished the hedge and ditch round the yams by this time; and if so; I expect Madam will not like to be left in the tents alone with Juno and the children; and so we shall all move back to the house again until we have altered the storehouse; I must say that I would rather your mamma remained in the tents until all was finished。〃

〃Because you are afraid of a visit from the savages; Ready?〃

〃I am; sir; and that's the truth。〃

〃But; Ready; if they do come; we shall see them coming; and would it not be better that we should all be together; even if we are obliged to conceal ourselves in consequence of not being prepared? Suppose the savages were to overrun the island; and find my mother; my little brother; and sister; defenceless; at the time we were obliged to retreat from our house; how dreadful that would be!〃

〃But I counted upon retreating to the tents。〃

〃So we can all together; unless we are surprised in the night。〃

〃That we must take care not to be。 There's not three hours' dark in this season of the year。 Well; William; I doubt not you may be right; and if they are all with us; Juno will be a great help; and we shall get through our work the faster。〃

〃We had better let the question be decided by my father and mother。〃

〃Very true; William; here's the point at last。 We will haul the timber on the beach; and then be off as fast as we can; for it is getting late。〃

It was; indeed; much later than they had usually arrived at
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