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Thus equipped； we felt upon more even terms with the tigers； but there
was no sign of the tigers； and I decided that they must be confined to the
mainland。
After eating； we set out in search of fuel； leaving Taylor to guard the
launch。 For some reason I could not trust Snider alone。 I knew that he
looked with disapproval upon my plan to visit England； and I did not
know but what at his first opportunity； he might desert us； taking the
launch with him； and attempt to return to Pan…America。
That he would be fool enough to venture it； I did not doubt。
We had gone inland for a mile or more； and were passing through a
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park…like wood； when we came suddenly upon the first human beings we
had seen since we sighted the English coast。
There were a score of men in the party。 Hairy； half…naked men they
were； resting in the shade of a great tree。 At the first sight of us they
sprang to their feet with wild yells； seizing long spears that had lain beside
them as they rested。
For a matter of fifty yards they ran from us as rapidly as they could；
and then they turned and surveyed us for a moment。 Evidently
emboldened by the scarcity of our numbers； they commenced to advance
upon us； brandishing their spears and shouting horribly。
They were short and muscular of build； with long hair and beards
tangled and matted with filth。 Their heads； however； were shapely； and
their eyes； though fierce and warlike； were intelligent。
Appreciation of these physical attributes came later； of course； when I
had better opportunity to study the men at close range and under
circumstances less fraught with danger and excitement。 At the moment I
saw； and with unmixed wonder； only a score of wild savages charging
down upon us； where I had expected to find a community of civilized and
enlightened people。
Each of us was armed with rifle； revolver； and cutlass； but as we stood
shoulder to shoulder facing the wild men I was loath to give the command
to fire upon them； inflicting death or suffering upon strangers with whom
we had no quarrel； and so I attempted to restrain them for the moment that
we might parley with them。
To this end I raised my left hand above my head with the palm toward
them as the most natural gesture indicative of peaceful intentions which
occurred to me。 At the same time I called aloud to them that we were
friends； though； from their appearance； there was nothing to indicate that
they might understand Pan…American； or ancient English； which are of
course practically identical。
At my gesture and words they ceased their shouting and came to a halt
a few paces from us。 Then； in deep tones； one who was in advance of the
others and whom I took to be the chief or leader of the party replied in a
tongue which while intelligible to us； was so distorted from the English
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language from which it evidently had sprung； that it was with difficulty
that we interpreted it。
〃Who are you；〃 he asked； 〃and from what country？〃
I told him that we were from Pan…America； but he only shook his head
and asked where that was。 He had never heard of it； or of the Atlantic
Ocean which I told him separated his country from mine。
〃It has been two hundred years；〃 I told him； 〃since a Pan… American
visited England。〃
〃England？〃 he asked。 〃What is England？〃
〃Why this is a part of England！〃 I exclaimed。
〃This is Grubitten；〃 he assured me。 〃I know nothing about England；
and I have lived here all my life。〃
It was not until long after that the derivation of Grubitten occurred to
me。 Unquestionably it is a corruption of Great Britain； a name formerly
given to the large island comprising England； Scotland and Wales。
Subsequently we heard it pronounced Grabrittin and Grubritten。
I then asked the fellow if he could direct us to Ryde or Newport； but
again he shook his head； and said that he never had heard of such
countries。 And when I asked him if there were any cities in this country
he did not know what I meant； never having heard the word cities。
I explained my meaning as best I could by stating that by city I
referred to a place where many people lived together in houses。
〃Oh；〃 he exclaimed； 〃you mean a camp！ Yes； there are two great
camps here； East Camp and West Camp。 We are from East Camp。〃
The use of the word camp to describe a collection of habitations
naturally suggested war to me； and my next question was as to whether the
war was over； and who had been victorious。
〃No；〃 he replied to this question。 〃The war is not yet over。 But it
soon will be； and it will end； as it always does； with the Westenders
running away。 We； the Eastenders； are always victorious。〃
〃No；〃 I said； seeing that he referred to the petty tribal wars of his little
island； 〃I mean the Great War； the war with Germany。 Is it endedand
who was victorious？〃
He shook his head impatiently。
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〃I never heard；〃 he said； 〃of any of these strange countries of which
you speak。〃
It seemed incredible； and yet it was true。 These people living at the
very seat of the Great War knew nothing of it； though but two centuries
had passed since； to our knowledge； it had been running in the height of its
titanic frightfulness all about them； and to us upon the far side of the
Atlantic still was a subject of keen interest。
Here was a lifelong inhabitant of the Isle of Wight who never had
heard of either Germany or England！ I turned to him quite suddenly with
a new question。
〃What people live upon the mainland？〃 I asked； and pointed in the
direction of the Hants coast。
〃No one lives there；〃 he replied。
〃Long ago； it is said； my people dwelt across the waters upon that
other land； but the wild beasts devoured them in such numbers that finally
the