Ship-Trap Island Part 3

Murder! I laughed at Rainsford wholeheartedly. Murder, what a ridiculous idea. Silly Americans and their morals.1

"I refuse to believe that so and civilized a young man as you seems to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life. Surely your experiences in the war--"2

"Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder." Rainsford finished very tensely. He looked very much like a rooster to me.3

"How extraordinarily droll you are!" I told him through my laughter, "One does not expect nowadays to find a young man of the educated class, even in America, with such a naive, and, if I may say so, mid-Victorian point of view. It's like finding a snuff box in a limousine. Ah, well, doubtless you had Puritan ancestors. So many Americans appear to have had. I'll wager you'll forget your notions when you go hunting with me. You've a genuine new thrill in store for you, Mr. Rainsford."4

"Thank you, I'm a hunter, not a murderer."5

There was the word again. Murder! So ugly of a word6

"Dear me, again with that unpleasant word. But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite ill founded."7

"Yes?" asked Rainsford, unconvinced that I could.8

"Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if need be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth--sailors from tramp ships--lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels--a thoroughbred horse or a hound is worth more than a score of them."9

"But they are men," Rainsford said angrily.10

"Precisely," I said, not quite getting why he was so worked up. They are just men. They were expendable. As long as their kind breed there will always be more. "That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure. They can reason, after a fashion. So they are dangerous." 11

Rainsford walked to the window and looked out toward the sea. He looked a little sick. I decided to show him my invention that I used to get more sport. 12

"Watch! Out there!" I said excitedly and I pressed the button that turned on the lights that indicated a channel. Rainsford squinted from of the brightness of the lights.13

"They indicate a channel," I explained, "where there's none: giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws." I picked up a walnut "They can crush a ship as easily as I crush this nut." I threw the nut down on the floor and crushed it with my heel. Rainsford looked horrified. "Oh, yes. I have electricity. We try to be civilized here."14

Rainsford glared at me with cold disgust. Was it something I said?15

"Civilized? And you shoot down men?"16

For a second, I wanted to punch Rainsford in the face for his insolence, but that would not be sporting. After all, he was a little right.17

"Dear me, what a righteous young man you are! I assure you I do not do the thing you suggest. That would be barbarous. I treat these visitors with every consideration. They get plenty of good food and exercise. They get into splendid physical condition. You see for yourself tomorrow."