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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gorilla Hunters, by R.M. Ballantyne
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Gorilla Hunters
+
+Author: R.M. Ballantyne
+
+Release Date: June 7, 2007 [EBook #21736]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GORILLA HUNTERS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+THE GORILLA HUNTERS, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+IN WHICH THE HUNTERS ARE INTRODUCED.
+
+It was five o'clock in the afternoon.  There can be no doubt whatever as
+to that.  Old Agnes may say what she pleases--she has a habit of doing
+so--but I know for certain (because I looked at my watch not ten minutes
+before it happened) that it was exactly five o'clock in the afternoon
+when I received a most singular and every way remarkable visit--a visit
+which has left an indelible impression on my memory, as well it might;
+for, independent of its singularity and unexpectedness, one of its
+results was the series of strange adventures which are faithfully
+detailed in this volume.
+
+It happened thus:--
+
+I was seated in an armchair in my private study in a small town on the
+west coast of England.  It was a splendid afternoon, and it was exactly
+five o'clock.  Mark that.  Not that there is anything singular about the
+mere fact, neither is it in any way mixed up with the thread of this
+tale; but old Agnes is very obstinate--singularly positive--and I have a
+special desire that she should see it in print, that I have not given in
+on that point.  Yes, it was five precisely, and a beautiful evening.  I
+was ruminating, as I frequently do, on the pleasant memories of bygone
+days, especially the happy days that I spent long ago among the coral
+islands of the Pacific, when a tap at the door aroused me.
+
+"Come in."
+
+"A veesiter, sir," said old Agnes (my landlady), "an' he'll no gie his
+name."
+
+Old Agnes, I may remark, is a Scotchwoman.
+
+"Show him in," said I.
+
+"Maybe he's a pickpocket," suggested Agnes.
+
+"I'll take my chance of that."
+
+"Ay! that's like 'ee.  Cares for naethin'.  Losh, man, what if he cuts
+yer throat?"
+
+"I'll take my chance of that too; only _do_ show him in, my good woman,"
+said I, with a gesture of impatience that caused the excellent (though
+obstinate) old creature to depart, grumbling.
+
+In another moment a quick step was heard on the stair, and a stranger
+burst into the room, shut the door in my landlady's face as she followed
+him, and locked it.
+
+I was naturally surprised, though not alarmed, by the abrupt and
+eccentric conduct of my visitor, who did not condescend to take off his
+hat, but stood with his arms folded on his breast, gazing at me and
+breathing hard.
+
+"You are agitated, sir; pray be seated," said I, pointing to a chair.
+
+The stranger, who was a little man and evidently a gentleman, made no
+reply, but, seizing a chair, placed it exactly before me, sat down on it
+as he would have seated himself on a horse, rested his arms on the back,
+and stared me in the face.
+
+"You are disposed to be facetious," said I, smiling (for I never take
+offence without excessively good reason).
+
+"Not at all, by no means," said he, taking off his hat and throwing it
+recklessly on the floor.  "You are Mr Rover, I presume?"
+
+"The same, sir, at your service."
+
+"Are you? oh, that's yet to be seen!  Pray, is your Christian name
+Ralph?"
+
+"It is," said I, in some surprise at the coolness of my visitor.
+
+"Ah! just so.  Christian name Ralph, t'other name Rover--Ralph Rover.
+Very good.  Age twenty-two yesterday, eh?"
+
+"My birthday _was_ yesterday, and my age _is_ twenty-two.  You appear to
+know more of my private history than I have the pleasure of knowing of
+yours.  Pray, sir, may I--but, bless me! are you unwell?"
+
+I asked this in some alarm, because the little man was rolling about in
+his seat, holding his sides, and growing very red in the face.
+
+"Oh no! not at all; perfectly well--never was better in my life," he
+said, becoming all at once preternaturally grave.  "You were once in the
+Pacific--lived on a coral island--"
+
+"I did."
+
+"Oh, don't trouble yourself to answer.  Just shut up for a minute or
+two.  You were rather a soft green youth then, and you don't seem to be
+much harder or less verdant now."
+
+"Sir!"  I exclaimed, getting angry.
+
+"Just so," continued he, "and you knew a young rascal there--"
+
+"I know a rascal _here_," I exclaimed, starting up, "whom I'll kick--"
+
+"What!" cried the little stranger, also starting up and capsizing the
+chair; "Ralph Rover, has time and sunburning and war so changed my
+visage that you cannot recognise Peterkin?"
+
+I almost gasped for breath.
+
+"Peterkin--Peterkin Gay!"  I exclaimed.
+
+I am not prone to indulge in effeminate demonstration, but I am not
+ashamed to confess that when I gazed on the weather-beaten though ruddy
+countenance of my old companion, and observed the eager glance of his
+bright blue eyes, I was quite overcome, and rushed violently into his
+arms.  I may also add that until that day I had had no idea of
+Peterkin's physical strength; for during the next five minutes he
+twisted me about and spun me round and round my own room until my brain
+began to reel, and I was fain to cry him mercy.
+
+"So, you're all right--the same jolly, young old wiseacre in whiskers
+and long coat," cried Peterkin.  "Come now, Ralph, sit down if you can.
+I mean to stay with you all evening, and all night, and all to-morrow,
+and all next day, so we'll have lots of time to fight our battles o'er
+again.  Meanwhile compose yourself, and I'll tell you what I've come
+about.  Of course, my first and chief reason was to see your face, old
+boy; but I have another reason too--a very peculiar reason.  I've a
+proposal to make and a plan to unfold, both of 'em stunners; they'll
+shut you up and screw you down, and altogether flabbergast you when you
+hear 'em, so sit down and keep quiet--do."
+
+I sat down accordingly, and tried to compose myself; but, to say truth,
+I was so much overjoyed and excited by the sight of my old friend and
+companion that I had some difficulty at first in fixing my attention on
+what he said, the more especially that he spoke with extreme volubility,
+and interrupted his discourse very frequently, in order to ask questions
+or to explain.
+
+"Now, old fellow," he began, "here goes, and mind you don't interrupt
+me.  Well, I mean to go, and I mean you to go with me, to--but, I
+forgot, perhaps you won't be able to go.  What are you?"
+
+"What am I?"
+
+"Ay, your profession, your calling; lawyer, M.D., scrivener--which?"
+
+"I am a naturalist."
+
+"A what?"
+
+"A naturalist."
+
+"Ralph," said Peterkin slowly, "have you been long troubled with that
+complaint?"
+
+"Yes," I replied, laughing; "I have suffered from it from my earliest
+infancy, more or less."
+
+"I thought so," rejoined my companion, shaking his head gravely.  "I
+fancied that I observed the development of that disease when we lived
+together on the coral island.  It don't bring you in many thousands a
+year, does it?"
+
+"No," said I, "it does not.  I am only an amateur, having a sufficiency
+of this world's goods to live on without working for my bread.  But
+although my dear father at his death left me a small fortune, which
+yields me three hundred a year, I do not feel entitled to lead the life
+of an idler in this busy world, where so many are obliged to toil night
+and day for the bare necessaries of life.  I have therefore taken to my
+favourite studies as a sort of business, and flatter myself that I have
+made one or two not unimportant discoveries, and added a few mites to
+the sum of human knowledge.  A good deal of my time is spent in
+scientific roving expeditions throughout the country, and in
+contributing papers to several magazines."
+
+While I was thus speaking I observed that Peterkin's face was undergoing
+the most remarkable series of changes of expression, which, as I
+concluded, merged into a smile of beaming delight, as he said,--"Ralph,
+you're a trump!"
+
+"Possibly," said I, "you are right; but, setting that question aside for
+the present, let me remind you that you have not yet told me where you
+mean to go to."
+
+"I mean," said Peterkin slowly, placing both hands on his knees and
+looking me steadily in the face--"I mean to go a-hunting in--but I
+forgot.  You don't know that I'm a hunter, a somewhat famous hunter?"
+
+"Of course I don't.  You are so full of your plans and proposals that
+you have not yet told me where you have been or what doing these six
+years.  And you ye never written to me once all that time, shabby
+fellow.  I thought you were dead."
+
+"Did you go into mourning for me, Ralph?"
+
+"No, of course not."
+
+"A pretty fellow you are to find fault.  You thought that I, your oldest
+and best friend, was dead, and you did not go into mourning.  How could
+I write to you when you parted from me without giving me your address?
+It was a mere chance my finding you out even now.  I was taking a quiet
+cup of coffee in the commercial room of a hotel not far distant, when I
+overheard a stranger speaking of his friend `Ralph Rover, the
+philosopher,' so I plunged at him promiscuously, and made him give me
+your address.  But I've corresponded with Jack ever since we parted on
+the pier at Dover."
+
+"What!  Jack--Jack Martin?"  I exclaimed, as a warm gush of feeling
+filled my heart at the sound of his well-remembered name.  "Is Jack
+alive?"
+
+"Alive!  I should think so.  If possible, he's more alive than ever; for
+I should suppose he must be full-grown now, which he was not when we
+last met.  He and I have corresponded regularly.  He lives in the north
+of England, and by good luck happens to be just now within thirty miles
+of this town.  You don't mean to say, Ralph, that you have never met!"
+
+"Never.  The very same mistake that happened with you occurred between
+him and me.  We parted vowing to correspond as long as we should live,
+and three hours after I remembered that we had neglected to exchange our
+addresses, so that we could not correspond.  I have often, often made
+inquiries both for you and him, but have always failed.  I never heard
+of Jack from the time we parted at Dover till to-day."
+
+"Then no doubt you thought us both dead, and yet you did not go into
+mourning for either of us!  O Ralph, Ralph, I had entertained too good
+an opinion of you."
+
+"But tell me about Jack," said I, impatient to hear more concerning my
+dear old comrade.
+
+"Not just now, my boy; more of him in a few minutes.  First let us
+return to the point.  What was it?  Oh! a--about my being a celebrated
+hunter.  A very Nimrod--at least a miniature copy.  Well, Ralph, since
+we last met I have been all over the world, right round and round it.
+I'm a lieutenant in the navy now--at least I was a week ago.  I've been
+fighting with the Kaffirs and the Chinamen, and been punishing the
+rascally sepoys in India, and been hunting elephants in Ceylon and
+tiger-shooting in the jungles, and harpooning whales in the polar seas,
+and shooting lions at the Cape; oh, you've no notion where all I've
+been.  It's a perfect marvel I've turned up here alive.  But there's one
+beast I've not yet seen, and I'm resolved to see him and shoot him
+too--"
+
+"But," said I, interrupting, "what mean you by saying that you were a
+lieutenant in the navy a week ago?"
+
+"I mean that I've given it up.  I'm tired of the sea.  I only value it
+as a means of getting from one country to another.  The land, the land
+for me!  You must know that an old uncle, a rich old uncle of mine, whom
+I never saw, died lately and left me his whole fortune.  Of course he
+died in India.  All old uncles who die suddenly and leave unexpected
+fortunes to unsuspecting nephews are old Indian uncles, and mine was no
+exception to the general rule.  So I'm independent, like you, Ralph,
+only I've got three or four thousand a year instead of hundreds, I
+believe; but I'm not sure and don't care--and I'm determined now to go
+on a long hunting expedition.  What think ye of all that, my boy?"
+
+"In truth," said I, "it would puzzle me to say what I think, I am so
+filled with surprise by all you tell me.  But you forget that you have
+not yet told me to which part of the world you mean to go, and what sort
+of beast it is you are so determined to see and shoot if you can."
+
+"If I can!" echoed Peterkin, with a contemptuous curl of the lip.  "Did
+not I tell you that I was a _celebrated_ hunter?  Without meaning to
+boast, I may tell you that there is no peradventure in my shooting.  If
+I only get there and see the brute within long range, I'll--ha! won't
+I!"
+
+"Get _where_, and see _what_?"
+
+"Get to Africa and see the gorilla!" cried Peterkin, while a glow of
+enthusiasm lighted up his eyes.  "You've heard of the gorilla, Ralph, of
+course--the great ape--the enormous puggy--the huge baboon--the man
+monkey, that we've been hearing so much of for some years back, and that
+the niggers on the African coast used to dilate about till they caused
+the very hair of my head to stand upon end?  I'm determined to shoot a
+gorilla, or prove him to be a myth.  And I mean you to come and help me,
+Ralph; he's quite in your way.  A bit of natural history, I suppose,
+although he seems by all accounts to be a very unnatural monster.  And
+Jack shall go too--I'm resolved on that; and we three shall roam the
+wild woods again, as we did in days of yore, and--"
+
+"Hold, Peterkin," said I, interrupting.  "How do you know that Jack will
+go?"
+
+"How do I know?  Intuitively, of course.  I shall write to him to-night;
+the post does not leave till ten.  He'll get it to-morrow at breakfast,
+and will catch the forenoon coach, which will bring him down here by two
+o'clock, and then we'll begin our preparations at once, and talk the
+matter over at dinner.  So you see it's all cut and dry.  Give me a
+sheet of paper and I'll write at once.  Ah! here's a bit; now a pen.
+Bless me, Ralph, haven't you got a quill?  Who ever heard of a
+philosophical naturalist writing with steel.  Now, then, here
+goes:--`B'luv'd Jack,'--will that do to begin with, eh?  I'm afraid it's
+too affectionate; he'll think it's from a lady friend.  But it can't be
+altered,--`Here I am, and here's Ralph--Ralph Rover!!!!!! think of
+that,' (I say, Ralph, I've put six marks of admiration there); `I've
+found him out.  Do come to see us.  Excruciatingly important business.
+Ever thine--Peterkin Gay.'  Will that bring him, d'ye think?"
+
+"I think it will," said I, laughing.
+
+"Then off with it, Ralph," cried my volatile friend, jumping up and
+looking hastily round for the bell-rope.  Not being able to find it, my
+bell-pull being an unobtrusive knob and not a rope, he rushed to the
+door, unlocked it, darted out, and uttered a tremendous roar, which was
+followed by a clatter and a scream from old Agnes, whom he had upset and
+tumbled over.
+
+It was curious to note the sudden change that took place in Peterkin's
+face, voice, and manner, as he lifted the poor old woman, who was very
+thin and light, in his arms, and carrying her into the room, placed her
+in my easy-chair.  Real anxiety was depicted in his countenance, and he
+set her down with a degree of care and tenderness that quite amazed me.
+I was myself very much alarmed at first.
+
+"My poor dear old _woman_," said Peterkin, supporting my landlady's
+head; "my stupid haste I fear you are hurt."
+
+"Hech! it's nae hurt--it's deed I am, fair deed; killed be a
+whaumlskamerin' young blagyird.  Oh, ma puir heed!"
+
+The manner and tone in which this was said convinced me that old Agnes
+was more frightened than injured.  In a few minutes the soothing tones
+and kind manner of my friend had such an effect upon her that she
+declared she was better, and believed after all that she was only a "wee
+bit frichtened."  Nay, so completely was she conciliated, that she
+insisted on conveying the note to the post-office, despite Peterkin's
+assurance that he would not hear of it.  Finally she hobbled out of the
+room with the letter in her hand.
+
+It is interesting to note how that, in most of the affairs of humanity,
+things turn out very different, often totally different, from what we
+had expected or imagined.  During the remainder of that evening Peterkin
+and I talked frequently and much of our old friend Jack Martin.  We
+recalled his manly yet youthful countenance, his bold, lion-like
+courage, his broad shoulders and winning gentle smile, and although we
+knew that six years must have made an immense difference in his personal
+appearance--for he was not much more than eighteen when we last parted--
+we could not think of him except as a hearty, strapping sailor-boy.  We
+planned, too, how we would meet him at the coach; how we would stand
+aside in the crowd until he began to look about for us in surprise, and
+then one of us would step forward and ask if he wished to be directed to
+any particular part of the town, and so lead him on and talk to him as a
+stranger for some time before revealing who we were.  And much more to
+the same effect.  But when next day came our plans and our conceptions
+were utterly upset.
+
+A little before two we sauntered down to the coach-office, and waited
+impatiently for nearly twenty minutes.  Of course the coach was late; it
+always is on such occasions.
+
+"Suppose he does not come," said I.
+
+"What a fellow you are," cried Peterkin, "to make uncomfortable
+suppositions!  Let us rather suppose that he does come."
+
+"Oh, then, it would be all right; but if he does not come, what then?"
+
+"Why, then, it would be all wrong, and we should have to return home and
+eat our dinner in the sulks, that's all."
+
+As my companion spoke we observed the coach come sweeping round the turn
+of the road about half a mile distant.  In a few seconds it dashed into
+the town at full gallop, and finally drew up abruptly opposite the door
+of the inn, where were assembled the usual group of hostlers and waiters
+and people who expected friends by the coach.
+
+"He's not there," whispered Peterkin, in deep disappointment--"at least
+he's not on the outside, and Jack would never travel inside of a coach
+even in bad weather, much less in fine.  That's not him on the back-seat
+beside the fat old woman with the blue bundle, surely!  It's very like
+him, but too young, much too young.  There's a great giant of a man on
+the box-seat with a beard like a grenadier's shako, and a stout old
+gentleman behind him with gold spectacles.  That's all, except two boys
+farther aft, and three ladies in the cabin.  Oh, _what_ a bore!"
+
+Although deeply disappointed at the non-arrival of Jack, I could with
+difficulty refrain from smiling at the rueful and woe-begone countenance
+of my poor companion.  It was evident that he could not bear
+disappointment with equanimity, and I was on the point of offering some
+consolatory remarks, when my attention was attracted by the little old
+woman with the blue bundle, who went up to the gigantic man with the
+black beard, and in the gentlest possible tone of voice asked if he
+could direct her to the white house.
+
+"No, madam," replied the big man hastily; "I'm a stranger here."
+
+The little old woman was startled by his abrupt answer.  "Deary me, sir,
+no offence, I hope."
+
+She then turned to Peterkin and put the same question, possibly under a
+vague sort of impression that if a gigantic frame betokened a gruff
+nature, diminutive stature must necessarily imply extreme amiability.
+If so, she must have been much surprised as well as disappointed, for
+Peterkin, rendered irascible by disappointment, turned short round and
+said sharply, "Why, madam, how can _I_ tell you where the white house
+is, unless you say which white house you want?  Half the houses of the
+town are white--at least they're _dirty_ white," he added bitterly, as
+he turned away.
+
+"I think I can direct you, ma'am," said I, stepping quickly up with a
+bland smile, in order to counteract, if possible, my companion's
+rudeness.
+
+"Thank you, sir, kindly," said the little old woman; "I'm glad to find
+_some_ little civility in the town."
+
+"Come with me, ma'am; I am going past the white house, and will show you
+the way."
+
+"And pray, sir," said the big stranger, stepping up to me as I was about
+to move away, "can you recommend me to a good hotel?"
+
+I replied that I could; that there was one in the immediate vicinity of
+the white house, and that if he would accompany me I would show him the
+way.  All this I did purposely in a very affable and obliging tone and
+manner; for I hold that example is infinitely better than precept, and
+always endeavour, if possible, to overcome evil with good.  I offered my
+arm to the old woman, who thanked me and took it.
+
+"What!" whispered Peterkin, "you don't mean me to take this great ugly
+gorilla in tow?"
+
+"Of course," replied I, laughing, as I led the way.
+
+Immediately I entered into conversation with my companion, and I heard
+"the gorilla" attempt to do so with Peterkin; but from the few sharp
+cross replies that reached my ear, I became aware that he was
+unsuccessful.  In the course of a few minutes, however, he appeared to
+have overcome his companion's ill-humour, for I overheard their voices
+growing louder and more animated as they walked behind me.
+
+Suddenly I heard a shout, and turning hastily round, observed Peterkin
+struggling in the arms of the gorilla!  Amazed beyond measure at the
+sight, and firmly persuaded that a cowardly assault had been made upon
+my friend, I seized the old woman's umbrella, as the only available
+weapon, and flew to the rescue.
+
+"Jack, my boy! can it be possible?" gasped Peterkin.
+
+"I believe it is," replied Jack, laughing.--"Ralph, my dear old fellow,
+how are you?"
+
+I stood petrified.  I believed that I was in a dream.
+
+I know not what occurred during the next five minutes.  All I could
+remember with anything like distinctness was a succession of violent
+screams from the little old woman, who fled shouting thieves and murder
+at the full pitch of her voice.  We never saw that old woman again, but
+I made a point of returning her umbrella to the "white house."
+
+Gradually we became collected and sane.
+
+"Why, Jack, how did you find us out?" cried Peterkin, as we all hurried
+on to my lodgings, totally forgetful of the little old woman, whom, as I
+have said, we never saw again, but who, I sincerely trust, arrived at
+the white house in safety.
+
+"Find you out!  I knew you the moment I set eyes on you.  Ralph puzzled
+me for a second, he has grown so much stouter; but I should know your
+nose, Peterkin, at a mile off."
+
+"Well, Jack, I did not know you," retorted Peterkin, "but I'm safe never
+again to forget you.  Such a great hairy Cossack as you have become!
+Why, what do you mean by it?"
+
+"I couldn't help it, please," pleaded Jack; "I grew in spite of myself;
+but I think I've stopped now."
+
+"It's time," remarked Peterkin.
+
+Jack had indeed grown to a size that men seldom attain to without losing
+in grace infinitely more than they gain in bulk, but he had retained all
+the elegance of form and sturdy vigour of action that had characterised
+him as a boy.  He was fully six feet two inches in his stockings, but so
+perfect were his proportions that his great height did not become
+apparent until you came close up to him.  Full half of his handsome
+manly face was hid by a bushy black beard and moustache, and his curly
+hair had been allowed to grow luxuriantly, so that his whole aspect was
+more like to the descriptions we have of one of the old Scandinavian
+Vikings than a gentleman of the present time.  In whatever company he
+chanced to be he towered high above every one else, and I am satisfied
+that, had he walked down Whitechapel, the Horse Guards would have
+appeared small beside him, for he possessed not only great length of
+limb but immense breadth of chest and shoulders.
+
+During our walk to my lodgings Peterkin hurriedly stated his "plan and
+proposal," which caused Jack to laugh very much at first, but in a few
+minutes he became grave, and said slowly, "That will just suit--it will
+do exactly."
+
+"What will do exactly?  Do be more explicit, man," said Peterkin, with
+some impatience.
+
+"I'll go with you, my boy."
+
+"Will you?" cried Peterkin, seizing his hand and shaking it violently;
+"I knew you would.  I said it; didn't I, Ralph?  And now we shall be
+sure of a gorilla, if there's one in Africa, for I'll use you as a
+stalking-horse."
+
+"Indeed!" exclaimed Jack.
+
+"Yes; I'll put a bear-skin or some sort of fur on your shoulders, and
+tie a lady's boa to you for a tail, and send you into the woods.  The
+gorillas will be sure to mistake you for a relative until you get quite
+close; then you'll take one pace to the left with the left foot (as the
+volunteers say), I'll take one to the front with the right--at fifty
+yards, ready--present--bang, and down goes the huge puggy with a bullet
+right between its two eyes!  There.  And Ralph's agreed to go too."
+
+"O Peterkin, I've done nothing of the sort.  You _proposed_ it."
+
+"Well, and isn't that the same thing?  I wonder, Ralph that you can give
+way to such mean-spirited prevarication.  What?  `It's not
+prevarication!'  Don't say that now; you know it is.  Ah! you may laugh,
+my boy, but you have promised to go with me and Jack to Africa, and go
+you shall."
+
+And so, reader, it was ultimately settled, and in the course of two
+weeks more we three were on our way to the land of the slave, the black
+savage, and the gorilla.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+LIFE IN THE WILD WOODS.
+
+One night, about five or six weeks after our resolution to go to Africa
+on a hunting expedition was formed, I put to myself the question, "Can
+it be possible that we are actually here, in the midst of it?"
+
+"Certainly, my boy, in the very thick of it," answered Peterkin, in a
+tone of voice which made Jack laugh, while I started and exclaimed--
+
+"Why, Peterkin, how did you come to guess my thoughts?"
+
+"Because, Ralph, you have got into a habit of thinking aloud, which may
+do very well as long as you have no secrets to keep but it may prove
+inconvenient some day, so I warn you in time."
+
+Not feeling disposed at that time to enter into a bantering conversation
+with my volatile companion, I made no reply, but abandoned myself again
+to the pleasing fancies and feelings which were called up by the
+singular scene in the midst of which I found myself.
+
+It seemed as if it were but yesterday when we drove about the crowded
+streets of London making the necessary purchases for our intended
+journey, and now, as I gazed around, every object that met my eye seemed
+strange, and wild, and foreign, and romantic.  We three were reclining
+round an enormous wood fire in the midst of a great forest, the trees
+and plants of which were quite new to me, and totally unlike those of my
+native land.  Rich luxuriance of vegetation was the feature that filled
+my mind most.  Tall palms surrounded us, throwing their broad leaves
+overhead and partially concealing the starlit sky.  Thick tough limbs of
+creeping plants and wild vines twisted and twined round everything and
+over everything, giving to the woods an appearance of tangled
+impenetrability; but the beautiful leaves of some, and the delicate
+tendrils of others, half concealed the sturdy limbs of the trees, and
+threw over the whole a certain air of wild grace, as might a
+semi-transparent and beautiful robe if thrown around the form of a
+savage.
+
+The effect of a strong fire in the woods at night is to give to
+surrounding space an appearance of ebony blackness, against which dark
+ground the gnarled stems and branches and pendent foliage appear as if
+traced out in light and lovely colours, which are suffused with a rich
+warm tone from the blaze.
+
+We were now in the wilds of Africa, although, as I have said, I found it
+difficult to believe the fact.  Jack and I wore loose brown shooting
+coats and pantaloons; but we had made up our minds to give up waistcoats
+and neckcloths, so that our scarlet flannel shirts with turned-down
+collars gave to us quite a picturesque and brigand-like appearance as we
+encircled the blaze--Peterkin smoking vigorously, for he had acquired
+that bad and very absurd habit at sea.  Jack smoked too, but he was not
+so inveterate as Peterkin.
+
+Jack was essentially moderate in his nature.  He did nothing violently
+or in a hurry; but this does not imply that he was slow or lazy.  He was
+leisurely in disposition, and circumstances seldom required him to be
+otherwise.  When Peterkin or I had to lift heavy weights, we were
+obliged to exert our utmost strength and agitate our whole frames; but
+Jack was so powerful that a comparatively slight effort was all that he
+was usually obliged to make.  Again, when we two were in a hurry we
+walked quickly, but Jack's long limbs enabled him to keep up with us
+without effort.  Nevertheless there were times when he was called upon
+to act quickly and with energy.  On those occasions he was as active as
+Peterkin himself, but his movements were tremendous.  It was, I may
+almost say, awful to behold Jack when acting under powerful excitement.
+He was indeed a splendid fellow, and not by any means deserving of the
+name of gorilla, which Peterkin had bestowed on him.
+
+But to continue my description of our costume.  We all wore homespun
+grey trousers of strong material.  Peterkin and Jack wore leggings in
+addition, so that they seemed to have on what are now termed
+knickerbockers.  Peterkin, however, had no coat.  He preferred a stout
+grey flannel shirt hanging down to his knees and belted round his waist
+in the form of a tunic.  Our tastes in headdress were varied.  Jack wore
+a pork-pie cap; Peterkin and I had wide-awakes.  My facetious little
+companion said that I had selected this species of hat because I was
+always more than half asleep!  Being peculiar in everything, Peterkin
+wore his wide-awake in an unusual manner--namely, turned up at the back,
+down at the front, and curled very much up at the sides.
+
+We were so filled with admiration of Jack's magnificent beard and
+moustache, that Peterkin and I had resolved to cultivate ours while in
+Africa; but I must say that, as I looked at Peterkin's face, the
+additional hair was not at that time an improvement, and I believe that
+much more could not have been said for myself.  The effect on my little
+comrade was to cause the lower part of his otherwise good-looking face
+to appear extremely dirty.
+
+"I wonder," said Peterkin, after a long silence, "if we shall reach the
+niggers' village in time for the hunt to-morrow.  I fear that we have
+spent too much time in this wild-goose chase."
+
+"Wild-goose chase, Peterkin!"  I exclaimed.  "Do you call hunting the
+gorilla by such a term?"
+
+"_Hunting_ the gorilla? no, certainly; but _looking_ for the gorilla in
+a part of the woods where no such beast was ever heard of since Adam was
+a schoolboy--"
+
+"Nay, Peterkin," interrupted Jack; "we are getting very near to the
+gorilla country, and you must make allowance for the enthusiasm of a
+naturalist."
+
+"Ah! we shall see where the naturalist's enthusiasm will fly to when we
+actually do come face to face with the big puggy."
+
+"Well," said I, apologetically, "I won't press you to go hunting again;
+I'll be content to follow."
+
+"Press me, my dear Ralph!" exclaimed Peterkin hastily, fearing that he
+had hurt my feelings; "why, man, I do but jest with you--you are so
+horridly literal.  I'm overjoyed to be pressed to go on the maddest
+wild-goose chase that ever was invented.  My greatest delight would be
+to go gorilla-hunting down Fleet Street, if you were so disposed.--But
+to be serious, Jack, do you think we shall be in time for the
+elephant-hunt to-morrow?"
+
+"Ay, in capital time, if you don't knock up."
+
+"What!  _I_ knock up!  I've a good mind to knock you down for suggesting
+such an egregious impossibility."
+
+"That's an impossibility anyhow, Peterkin, because I'm down already,"
+said Jack, yawning lazily and stretching out his limbs in a more
+comfortable and _degage_ manner.
+
+Peterkin seemed to ponder as he smoked his pipe for some time in
+silence.
+
+"Ralph," said he, looking up suddenly, "I don't feel a bit sleepy, and
+yet I'm tired enough."
+
+"You are smoking too much, perhaps," I suggested.
+
+"It's not that," cried Jack; "he has eaten too much supper."
+
+"Base insinuation!" retorted Peterkin.
+
+"Then it must be the monkey.  That's it.  Roast monkey does not agree
+with you."
+
+"Do you know, I shouldn't wonder if you were right; and it's a pity,
+too, for we shall have to live a good deal on such fare, I believe.
+However, I suppose we shall get used to it.--But I say, boys, isn't it
+jolly to be out here living like savages?  I declare it seems to me like
+a dream or a romance.--Just look, Ralph, at the strange wild creepers
+that are festooned overhead, and the great tropical leaves behind us,
+and the clear sky above, with the moon--ah! the moon; yes, that's one
+comfort--the moon is unchanged.  The same moon that smiles down upon us
+through a tangled mesh-work of palm-leaves and wild vines and monkeys'
+tails, is peeping down the chimney-pots of London and Edinburgh and
+Dublin!"
+
+"Why, Peterkin, you must have studied hard in early life to be so good a
+geographer."
+
+"Rather," observed Peterkin.
+
+"Yes; and look at the strange character of the tree-stems," said I,
+unwilling to allow the subject to drop.  "See those huge palmettoes
+like--like--"
+
+"Overgrown cabbages," suggested Peterkin; and he continued, "Observe the
+quaint originality of form in the body and limbs of that bloated old
+spider that is crawling up your leg, Ralph!"
+
+I started involuntarily, for there is no creature of which I have a
+greater abhorrence than a spider.
+
+"Where is it? oh!  I see," and the next moment I secured my prize and
+placed it with loathing, but interest, in my entomological box.
+
+At that moment a hideous roar rang through the woods, seemingly close
+behind us.  We all started to our feet, and seizing our rifles, which
+lay beside us ready loaded, cocked them and drew close together round
+the fire.
+
+"This won't do, lads," said Jack, after a few minutes' breathless
+suspense, during which the only sound we could hear was the beating of
+our own hearts; "we have allowed the fire to get too low, and we've
+forgotten to adopt our friend the trader's advice, and make two fires."
+
+So saying, Jack laid down his rifle, and kicking the logs with his heavy
+boot, sent up such a cloud of bright sparks as must certainly have
+scared the wild animal, whatever it was, away; for we heard no more of
+it that night.
+
+"You're right, Jack," remarked Peterkin; "so let us get up a blaze as
+fast as we can, and I'll take the first watch, not being sleepy.  Come
+along."
+
+In a few minutes we cut down with our axes a sufficient quantity of dry
+wood to keep two large fires going all night; we then kindled our second
+fire at a few yards distant from the first, and made our camp between
+them.  This precaution we took in order to scare away the wild animals
+whose cries we heard occasionally during the night.  Peterkin, having
+proposed to take the first watch--for we had to watch by turns all the
+night through--lighted his pipe and sat down before the cheerful fire
+with his back against the stem of a palm-tree, and his rifle lying close
+to his hand, to be ready in case of a surprise.  There were many natives
+wandering about in that neighbourhood, some of whom might be ignorant of
+our having arrived at their village on a peaceful errand.  If these
+should have chanced to come upon us suddenly, there was no saying what
+they might do in their surprise and alarm, so it behoved us to be on our
+guard.
+
+Jack and I unrolled the light blankets that we carried strapped to our
+shoulders through the day, and laying ourselves down side by side with
+our feet to the fire and our heads pillowed on a soft pile of
+sweet-scented grass, we addressed ourselves to sleep.  But sleep did not
+come so soon as we expected.  I have often noted with some surprise and
+much interest the curious phases of the phenomenon of sleep.  When I
+have gone to bed excessively fatigued and expecting to fall asleep
+almost at once, I have been surprised and annoyed to find that the
+longer I wooed the drowsy god the longer he refused to come to me; and
+at last, when I have given up the attempt in despair, he has suddenly
+laid his gentle hand upon my eyes and carried me into the land of Nod.
+Again, when I have been exceedingly anxious to keep awake, I have been
+attacked by sleep with such irresistible energy that I have been utterly
+unable to keep my eyelids open or my head erect, and have sat with my
+eyes blinking like those of an owl in the sunshine, and my head nodding
+like that of a Chinese mandarin.
+
+On this our first night in the African bush, at least our first night on
+a hunting expedition--we had been many nights in the woods on our
+journey to that spot--on this night, I say, Jack and I could by no means
+get to sleep for a very long time after we lay down, but continued to
+gaze up through the leafy screen overhead at the stars, which seemed to
+wink at us, I almost fancied, jocosely.  We did not speak to each other,
+but purposely kept silence.  After a time, however, Jack groaned, and
+said softly--
+
+"Ralph, are you asleep?"
+
+"No," said I, yawning.
+
+"I'm quite sure that Peterkin is," added Jack, raising his head and
+looking across the fire at the half-recumbent form of our companion.
+
+"Is he?" said Peterkin in a low tone.  "Just about as sound as a
+weasel!"
+
+"Jack," said I.
+
+"Well?"
+
+"I can't sleep a wink.  Ye-a-ow! isn't it odd?"
+
+"No more can I.  Do you know, Ralph, I've been counting the red berries
+in that tree above me for half an hour, in the hope that the monotony of
+the thing would send me off; but I was interrupted by a small monkey who
+has been sitting up among the branches and making faces at me for full
+twenty minutes.  There it is yet, I believe.  Do you see it?"
+
+"No; where?"
+
+"Almost above your head."
+
+I gazed upward intently for a few minutes, until I thought I saw the
+monkey, but it was very indistinct.  Gradually, however, it became more
+defined; then to my surprise it turned out to be the head of an
+elephant!  I was not only amazed but startled at this.
+
+"Get your rifle, Jack!" said I, in a low whisper.
+
+Jack made some sort of reply, but his voice sounded hollow and
+indistinct.  Then I looked up again, and saw that it was the head of a
+hippopotamus, not that of an elephant, which was looking down at me.
+Curiously enough, I felt little or no surprise at this, and when in the
+course of a few minutes I observed a pair of horns growing out of the
+creature's eyes and a bushy tail standing erect on the apex of its head,
+I ceased to be astonished at the sight altogether, and regarded it as
+quite natural and commonplace.  The object afterwards assumed the
+appearance of a lion with a crocodile's bail, and a serpent with a
+monkey's head, and lastly of a gorilla, without producing in me any
+other feeling than that of profound indifference.  Gradually the whole
+scene vanished, and I became totally oblivious.
+
+This state of happy unconsciousness had scarcely lasted--it seemed to
+me--two minutes, when I was awakened by Peterkin laying his hand on my
+shoulder and saying--
+
+"Now then, Ralph, it's time to rouse up."
+
+"O Peterkin," said I, in a tone of remonstrance, "how could you be so
+unkind as to waken me when I had just got to sleep?  Shabby fellow!"
+
+"Just got to sleep, say you?  You've been snoring like an apoplectic
+alderman for exactly two hours."
+
+"You don't say so!"  I exclaimed, getting into a sitting posture.
+
+"Indeed you have.  I'm sorry to rouse you, but time's up, and I'm
+sleepy; so rub your eyes, man, and try to look a little less like an
+astonished owl if you can.  I have just replenished both the fires, so
+you can lean your back against that palm-tree and take it easy for
+three-quarters of an hour or so.  After that you'll have to heap on more
+wood."
+
+I looked at Jack, who was now lying quite unconscious, breathing with
+the slow, deep regularity of profound slumber, and with his mouth wide
+open.
+
+"What a chance for some waggish baboon to drop a nut or a berry in!"
+said Peterkin, winking at me with one eye as he lay down in the spot
+from which I had just risen.
+
+He was very sleepy, poor fellow, and could hardly smile at his own
+absurd fancy.  He was asleep almost instantly.  In fact, I do not
+believe that he again opened the eye with which he had winked at me, but
+that he merely shut the other and began to slumber forthwith.
+
+I now began to feel quite interested in my responsible position as
+guardian of the camp.  I examined my rifle to see that it was in order
+and capped; then leaning against the palm-tree, which was, as it were,
+my sentry-box, I stood erect and rubbed my hands and took off my cap, so
+that the pleasant night air might play about my temples, and more
+effectually banish drowsiness.
+
+In order to accomplish this more thoroughly I walked round both fires
+and readjusted the logs, sending up showers of sparks as I did so.  Then
+I went to the edge of the circle of light, in the centre of which our
+camp lay, and peered into the gloom of the dark forest.
+
+There was something inexpressibly delightful yet solemn in my feelings
+as I gazed into that profound obscurity where the great tree-stems and
+the wild gigantic foliage nearest to me appeared ghost-like and
+indistinct, and the deep solitudes of which were peopled, not only with
+the strange fantastic forms of my excited fancy, but, as I knew full
+well, with real wild creatures, both huge and small, such as my
+imagination at that time had not fully conceived.  I felt awed, almost
+oppressed, with the deep silence around, and, I must confess, looked
+somewhat nervously over my shoulder as I returned to the fire and sat
+down to keep watch at my post.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+WHEREIN I MOUNT GUARD, AND HOW I DID IT, ETCETERA.
+
+Now it so happened that the battle which I had to fight with myself
+after taking my post was precisely the converse of that which I fought
+during the earlier part of that night.  Then, it was a battle with
+wakefulness; now, it was a struggle with sleep; and of the two fights
+the latter was the more severe by far.
+
+I began by laying down my rifle close by my side, leaning back in a
+sitting posture against the palm-tree, and resigning myself to the
+contemplation of the fire, which burned merrily before me, while I
+pondered with myself how I should best employ my thoughts during the
+three long hours of my watch.  But I had not dwelt on that subject more
+than three minutes, when I was rudely startled by my own head falling
+suddenly and heavily forward on my chest.  I immediately roused myself.
+"Ah!  Ralph, Ralph," said I to myself in a whisper, "this won't do, lad.
+To sleep at your post! shame on you!  Had you been a sentinel in time
+of war that nod would have cost you your life, supposing you to have
+been caught in the act."
+
+Soliloquising thus, I arose and shook myself.  Then I slapped my chest
+several times and pulled my nose and sat down again.  Only a few minutes
+elapsed before the same thing occurred to me again, so I leaped up, and
+mended the fires, and walked to and fro, until I felt thoroughly awake,
+but in order to make sure that it should not occur again, I walked to
+the edge of the circle of light and gazed for some time into the dark
+forest, as I had done before.  While standing thus I felt my knees give
+way, as if they had been suddenly paralysed, and I awoke just in time to
+prevent myself falling to the ground.  I must confess I was much amazed
+at this, for although I had often read of soldiers falling asleep
+standing at their posts, I had never believed the thing possible.
+
+I now became rather anxious, "for," thought I, "if I go to sleep and the
+fires die down, who knows but wild beasts may come upon us and kill us
+before we can seize our arms."  For a moment or two I meditated awaking
+Jack and begging him to keep me company, but when I reflected that his
+watch was to come immediately after mine, I had not the heart to do it.
+"No!" said I (and I said it aloud for the purpose of preventing
+drowsiness)--"no; I will fight this battle alone!  I will repeat some
+stanzas from my favourite authors.  Yes, I will try to remember a
+portion of `A Midsummer-Night's Dream.'  It will be somewhat appropriate
+to my present circumstances."
+
+Big with this resolve, I sat down with my face to the fire and my back
+to the palm-tree, and--fell sound asleep instantly!
+
+How long I lay in this condition I know not, but I was suddenly awakened
+by a yell so appalling that my heart leaped as if into my throat, and my
+nerves thrilled with horror.  For one instant I was paralysed; then my
+blood seemed to rebound on its course.  I sprang up and attempted to
+seize my rifle.
+
+The reader may judge of my state of mind when I observed that it was
+gone!  I leaped towards the fire, and grasping a lighted brand, turned
+round and glared into the woods in the direction whence the yell came.
+
+It was grey dawn, and I could see things pretty distinctly; but the only
+living object that met my gaze was Peterkin, who stood with my rifle in
+his hand laughing heartily!
+
+I immediately turned to look at Jack, who was sitting up in the spot
+where he had passed the night, with a sleepy smile on his countenance.
+
+"Why, what's the meaning of this?"  I inquired.
+
+"The meaning of it?" cried Peterkin, as he advanced and restored the
+rifle to its place.  "A pretty fellow you are to mount guard! we might
+have been all murdered in our sleep by niggers or eaten alive by
+gorillas, for all that you would have done to save us."
+
+"But, Peterkin," said I gravely, "you ought not to have startled me so;
+you gave me a terrible fright.  People have been driven mad before now,
+I assure you, by practical jokes."
+
+"My dear fellow," cried Peterkin, with much earnestness, "I know that as
+well as you.  But, in the first place, you were guilty of so heinous a
+crime that I determined to punish you, and at the same time to do it in
+a way that would impress it forcibly on your memory; and in the second
+place, I would not have done it at all had I not known that your nerves
+are as strong as those of a dray-horse.  You ought to be taking shame to
+yourself on account of your fault rather than objecting to your
+punishment."
+
+"Peterkin is right, my boy," said Jack, laughing, "though I must say he
+had need be sure of the nerves of any one to whom he intends to
+administer such a ferocious yell as that.  Anyhow, I have no reason to
+complain; for you have given me a good long sleep, although I can't say
+exactly that you have taken my watch.  It will be broad daylight in half
+an hour, so we must be stirring, comrades."
+
+On considering the subject I admitted the force of these remarks, and
+felt somewhat crestfallen.  No doubt, my companions had treated the
+thing jocularly, and, to say truth, there was much that was comical in
+the whole affair; but the more I thought of it, the more I came to
+perceive how terrible might have been the consequences of my
+unfaithfulness as a sentinel.  I laid the lesson to heart, and I can
+truly say that from that day to this I have never again been guilty of
+the crime of sleeping at my post.
+
+We now busied ourselves in collecting together the dying embers of our
+fire and in preparing breakfast, which consisted of tea, hard biscuit,
+and cold monkey.  None of us liked the monkey; not that its flesh was
+bad--quite the contrary--but it looked so like a small roasted baby that
+we could not relish it at all.  However, it was all we had; for we had
+set off on this hunting excursion intending to live by our rifles, but
+had been unfortunate, having seen nothing except a monkey or two.
+
+The kettle was soon boiled, and we sat down to our meagre fare with
+hearty appetites.  While we are thus engaged, I shall turn aside for a
+little and tell the reader, in one or two brief sentences, how we got to
+this place.
+
+We shipped in a merchant ship at Liverpool, and sailed for the west
+coast of Africa.  Arrived there we found a party, under the command of a
+Portuguese trader, about to set off to the interior.  He could speak a
+little English; so we arranged to go with him as far as he intended to
+proceed, learn as much of the native language as possible while in his
+company, and then obtain a native guide to conduct us to the country in
+which the gorillas are found.  To this native guide, we arranged, should
+be explained by the trader our object in visiting the country, so that
+he might tell the tribes whom we intended to visit.  This, we found, was
+an absolutely needful precaution, on the following ground.
+
+The natives of Africa have a singular and very bad style of carrying on
+trade with the white men who visit their shores.  The traffic consists
+chiefly of ivory, barwood (a wood much used in dyeing), and indiarubber.
+The natives of the far interior are not allowed to convey these
+commodities directly to the coast, but by the law of the land (which
+means the law of the strongest, for they are absolute savages) are
+obliged to deliver their goods to the care of the tribe next to them;
+these pass them on to the next tribe; and so on they go from tribe to
+tribe till they reach the coast, where they are sold by the tribe there.
+The price obtained, which usually consists of guns, powder and shot,
+looking-glasses, cloth, and sundry other articles and trinkets useful to
+men in a savage state, is returned to the owners in the far interior
+through the same channel; but as each tribe deducts a percentage for its
+trouble, the price dwindles down as it goes, until a mere trifle,
+sometimes nothing at all, remains to be handed over to the unfortunate
+people of the tribe who originally sent off the goods for sale.  Of
+course, such a system almost paralyses trade.  But the intermediate
+tribes between the coast and the interior being the gainers by this
+system, are exceedingly jealous of anything like an attempt to carry on
+direct trade.  They are ready to go to war with the tribes of the
+interior, should they attempt it, and they throw all the opposition they
+can in the way of the few white men who ever penetrate the interior for
+such a purpose.
+
+It will thus be seen that our travels would be hindered very much, if
+not stopped altogether, and ourselves be regarded with jealousy, or
+perhaps murdered, if our motives in going inland were not fully and
+satisfactorily explained to the different tribes as we passed through
+their lands.  And we therefore proposed to overcome the difficulty by
+taking a native guide with us from the tribe with which we should chance
+to be residing when obliged to separate from the Portuguese trader.
+
+We had now reached this point.  The day before that on which we encamped
+in the woods, as above related, we arrived at a native village, and had
+been received kindly by the king.  Almost immediately after our arrival
+we heard so many stories about gorillas that I felt persuaded we should
+fall in with one if we went a-hunting, and being exceedingly anxious to
+add one to my collection of animals--for I had a small museum at home--I
+prevailed on Jack and Peterkin to go one day's journey into the bush to
+look for them.  They laughed very much at me indeed, and said that we
+were still very far away from the gorilla country; but I had read in
+some work on Africa a remark to the effect that there is no cordillera,
+or mountain range, extending across the whole continent to limit the
+_habitat_ of certain classes of animals, and I thought that if any
+animal in Africa would not consent to remain in one region when it
+wished to go to another, that animal must be the ferocious gorilla.  The
+trader also laughed at me, and said that he had never seen any himself
+in that region, and that we would have to cross the desert before seeing
+them.  Still, I felt a disposition to try; besides, I felt certain that
+we should at least fall in with some sort of animals or plants or
+minerals that would be worth collecting; so it was agreed that we should
+go out for a single day, and be back in time for a great elephant-hunt
+which was about to take place.
+
+But to return from this digression.  Having finished breakfast, we made
+three bundles or packages of our blankets, provisions, and camp
+equipage; strapped them on our backs; and then, shouldering our rifles,
+set out on our return to the negro village.
+
+Of course we gave Jack the largest and heaviest bundle to carry.
+Peterkin's and mine were about equal, for although I was taller than
+Peterkin, I was not by any means so powerful or active.  I often
+wondered at the great strength that lay in the little frame of my
+friend.  To look at him, no one would believe that he was such a tough,
+wiry, hardy little fellow.  He was the same hearty, jovial creature that
+I had lived with so pleasantly when he and Jack and I were cast away on
+the coral island.  With the exception of a small scrap of whisker on
+each cheek, a scar over the right eye, and a certain air of manliness,
+there was little change in my old comrade.
+
+"Ralph," said Jack, as we strode along through the forest, "do you
+remember how we three used to wander about together in the woods of our
+coral island?"
+
+"Remember!"  I cried with enthusiasm, for at that moment the thought
+occurred to my own mind; "how can I ever forget it, Jack?  It seems to
+me just like yesterday.  I can hardly believe that six long years have
+passed since we drank that delicious natural lemonade out of the green
+cocoa-nuts, and wandered on the coral beach, and visited Penguin Island,
+and dived into the cave to escape the pirates.  The whole scene rises up
+before me so vividly that I could fancy we were still there.  Ah! these
+were happy times."
+
+"So they were," cried Peterkin; "but don't you go and become
+sentimentally sad, Ralph, when you talk of those happy days.  If we were
+happy there, are we not happy _here_?--There's no change in us--except,
+indeed, that Jack has become a gorilla."
+
+"Ay, and you a monkey," retorted Jack.
+
+"True; and Ralph a naturalist, which is the strangest beast of all,"
+added Peterkin.--"Can you tell me, Ralph, by the way, what tree that
+is?"
+
+"I'm sure I cannot tell.  Never saw or heard of one like it before," I
+replied, looking at the tree referred to with some interest.  It was a
+fine tree, but the great beauty about it was the gorgeous fruit with
+which it was laden.  It hung in the form of bunches of large grapes, and
+was of the brightest scarlet colour.  The glowing bunches seemed like
+precious gems glittering amongst the green foliage, and I observed that
+a few monkeys and several parrots were peeping at us through the
+branches.
+
+"It seems good for food," said Jack.  "You'd better climb up, Peterkin,
+and pull a few bunches.  The puggies won't mind you, of course, being
+one of themselves."
+
+"Ralph," said Peterkin, turning to me, and deigning no reply to Jack,
+"you call yourself a naturalist; so I suppose you are acquainted with
+the habits of monkeys, and can turn your knowledge to practical
+account."
+
+"Well," I replied, "I know something about the monkey tribes, but I
+cannot say that at this moment I remember any particular habit of which
+we might avail ourselves."
+
+"Do you not?  Well, now, that's odd.  I'm a student of nature myself,
+and I have picked up a little useful knowledge in the course of my
+travels.  Did you ever travel so far as the Zoological Gardens in
+London?"
+
+"Of course I have done so, often."
+
+"And did you ever observe a peculiar species of monkey, which, when you
+made a face at it, instantly flew into a towering passion, and shook the
+bars of its cage until you expected to see them broken?"
+
+"Yes," said I, laughing; "what then?"
+
+"Look here, you naturalist, and I'll put a wrinkle on your horn.  Yonder
+hangs a magnificent bunch of fruit that I very much desire to possess."
+
+"But it's too high to reach," said I.
+
+"But there's a monkey sitting beside it," said Peterkin.
+
+"I see.  You don't expect him to pull it and throw it down, do you?"
+
+"Oh no, certainly not; but--" Here Peterkin stepped up to the tree, and
+looking up at the monkey, said, "O-o-o-oo-o!" angrily.
+
+"_O-o-o-oo-oo_!" replied the monkey, stretching out its neck and looking
+down with an expression of surprise and indignation, as if to say, "What
+on earth do you mean by that?"
+
+"Oo-o-o-oo-o!" roared Peterkin.
+
+Hereupon the monkey uttered a terrific shriek of passion, exposed all
+its teeth and gums, glared at its adversary like a little fiend, and
+seizing the branch with both hands, shook it with all its might.  The
+result was, that not only did the coveted bunch of fruit fall to the
+ground, but a perfect shower of bunches came down, one of which hit Jack
+on the forehead, and, bursting there, sent its fragrant juice down his
+face and into his beard, while the parrots and all the other monkeys
+took to flight, shrieking with mingled terror and rage.
+
+"You see I'm a practical man," observed Peterkin quietly, as he picked
+up the fruit and began to eat it.  "Knowledge is power, my boy.  A man
+with a philosophical turn of mind like yourself ought to have been up to
+a dodge of this sort.  How capital this fruit is, to be sure!--Does it
+make good pomade, Jack?"
+
+"Excellent; but as I'm not in the habit of using pomade, I shall wash
+this out of my beard as quickly as possible."
+
+While Jack went to a brook that ran close to where we stood, I tasted
+the fruit, and found it most excellent, the pulp being juicy, with a
+very pleasant flavour.
+
+While we were thus engaged a wild pig ran grunting past us.
+
+"Doesn't that remind you of some of our doings on the coral island,
+Ralph?" said Peterkin.
+
+Before I could reply a herd of lovely small gazelles flew past.  Our
+rifles were lying on the ground, and before either of us could take aim
+the swift creatures were lost sight of in the thick underwood.  Peterkin
+fired one shot at a venture, but without any result.
+
+We were still deploring our stupidity in not having our rifles handy,
+when a strange sound was heard in the distance.  By this time Jack had
+come up, so we all three seized our rifles and listened intently.  The
+sound was evidently approaching.  It was a low, dull, booming roar,
+which at one moment seemed to be distant thunder, at another the cry of
+some huge animal in rage or pain.  Presently the beating of heavy hoofs
+on the turf and the crash of branches were heard.  Each of us sprang
+instinctively towards a tree, feeling that if danger were near its trunk
+would afford us some protection.
+
+Being ignorant, as yet, of the cries of the various wild beasts
+inhabiting those woods, we were greatly at a loss to determine what
+creature it could be that approached at such headlong speed.  That its
+mad career was caused by fear soon became apparent, for the tones of
+terror either in man or beast, when distinctly heard, cannot be
+mistaken.
+
+Immediately in front of the spot where we stood was an open space or
+glade of considerable extent.  Towards this the animal approached, as
+was evident from the increasing loudness of its wild roar, which was
+almost continuous.  In another moment the thick wall of underwood at its
+farther extremity was burst asunder with a crash, and a wild buffalo
+bull bounded into the plain and dashed madly across.  On its neck was
+crouched a leopard, which had fixed its claws and teeth deep in the
+flesh of the agonised animal.  In vain did the bull bound and rear, toss
+and plunge.  At one moment it ran like the wind; the next it stopped
+with such violence as to tear up the turf and scatter it around.  Then
+it reared, almost falling back; anon it plunged and rushed on again,
+with the foam flying from its mouth, and its bloodshot eyes glaring with
+the fire of rage and terror, while the woods seemed to tremble with its
+loud and deep-toned bellowing.  Twice in its passage across the open
+glade it ran, in its blind fury, straight against a tree, almost beating
+in its skull, and for a moment arresting its progress; but it instantly
+recovered the shock and burst away again as madly as ever.  But no
+effort that it was capable of making could relieve the poor creature
+from its deadly burden, or cause the leopard in the slightest degree to
+relax its fatal gripe.
+
+It chanced that the wild bull's mad gallop was in a direction that
+brought it within a few yards of the spot where we stood, so we prepared
+to put an end to its misery.  As it drew near, Jack, who was in advance,
+raised his rifle.  I, being only a short distance from him, also made
+ready to fire, although I confess that in the agitation of the moment I
+could not make up my mind whether I should fire at the buffalo or the
+leopard.  As far as I can recall my rapid and disjointed thoughts on
+that exciting occasion, I reasoned thus: "If I shoot the leopard the
+bull will escape, and if I shoot the bull the leopard will escape."  It
+did not occur to me at that trying moment, when self-possession and
+decision were so necessary, that I might shoot the bull with one barrel,
+and the leopard with the other.  Still less did it occur to me that I
+might miss bull and leopard altogether.
+
+While I was engaged in this hurried train of troubled thought, Jack
+fired both barrels of his rifle, one after the other, as quickly as
+possible.  The bull stumbled forward upon its knees.  In order to make
+assurance doubly sure, I aimed at its head and fired both barrels at
+once.  Instantly the bull rose, with a hideous bellow, and stood for one
+moment irresolute, glaring at its new enemies.  The leopard, I observed,
+was no longer on its back.  At this moment I heard an exclamation of
+anger, and looking round I observed Peterkin struggling violently in the
+grasp of one of the wild vines or thorny plants which abound in some
+parts of the African forests and render them almost impassable.  It
+seems that as the bull drew near, Peterkin, who, like Jack and me, was
+preparing to shoot, found that a dense thicket came between him and the
+game, so as to prevent his firing.  He leaped nimbly over a bush,
+intending to run to another spot, whence he could more conveniently take
+aim, but found himself, as I have related, suddenly entangled among the
+thorns in such a way that the more he struggled the more firmly he
+became ensnared.  Being of an impatient disposition, he did struggle
+violently, and it was this, probably, that attracted the attention of
+the bull and decided its future course and its ultimate fate; for after
+remaining one moment, as I have stated, in an irresolute attitude, it
+turned suddenly to the left and rushed, with its head down and its tail
+up, straight at Peterkin.
+
+I cannot describe the sensations that overwhelmed me on observing the
+imminent danger of my friend.  Horror almost overwhelmed me as I gazed
+with a stare of fascination at the frightful brute, which with flashing
+eyes and bloody foam dripping from its mouth charged into the thicket,
+and crashed through the tough boughs and bushes as if they were grass.
+A film came over my eyes.  I tried to reload my rifle, but my trembling
+hand refused to act, and I groaned with mingled shame and despair on
+finding myself thus incapable of action in the hour of extreme peril.
+At that moment I felt I would joyfully have given my own life to have
+saved that of Peterkin.  It takes me long to describe it, but the whole
+scene passed with the rapidity almost of a flash of light.
+
+Jack did not even attempt to load, but uttering a fearful cry, he sprang
+towards our friend with a bound like that of an enraged tiger.  A gleam
+of hope flashed through my soul as I beheld his gigantic form dash
+through the underwood.  It seemed to me as if no living creature could
+withstand such a furious onset.  Alas for Peterkin, had his life
+depended on Jack, strong and lion-like though he was!  His aid could not
+have been in time.  A higher Power nerved his arm and steeled his heart
+at that terrible moment.  As I gazed helplessly at Peterkin, I observed
+that he suddenly ceased his struggles to get free, and throwing forward
+the muzzle of his piece, stood boldly up and awaited the onset with calm
+self-possession.  The bull was on him almost in an instant.  One stride
+more and he would have been lost, but that stride was never taken.  His
+rifle poured its deadly charge into the skull of the wild bull, which
+fell a mass of dead flesh, literally at his feet.
+
+It were vain to attempt to describe the state of our feelings on this
+memorable occasion--the fervour with which we thanked our heavenly
+Father for our friend's deliverance--the delight with which we shook his
+hands, again and again, and embraced him.  It was with considerable
+difficulty that we extricated Peterkin from his entanglement.  When this
+was accomplished we proceeded to examine our prize.
+
+We were not a little puzzled on discovering that only three bullets had
+struck the bull.  For my part, I fired straight at its forehead, and had
+felt certain at the time that my shots had taken effect; yet there was
+but one ball in the animal's head, and that was undoubtedly Peterkin's,
+for the hair all round the hole was singed off, so near had it been to
+him when he fired.  The other two shots were rather wide apart--one in
+the shoulder, the other in the neck.  Both would have proved mortal in
+the long run, but neither was sufficiently near to a vital spot to kill
+speedily.
+
+"Now, Ralph, my boy," said Jack, after our excitement was in some degree
+abated, "you and I must divide the honour of these two shots, for I fear
+we can't tell which of us fired them.  Peterkin only fired once, and
+that was pretty effectual."
+
+"Yes," I replied, "it is rather perplexing; for although I have no
+objection whatever to your having all the honour of those two shots,
+still one likes to know with certainty who actually made them."
+
+"You'd better toss for them," suggested Peterkin, who was seated on the
+trunk of a fallen tree, examining, with a somewhat rueful countenance,
+the tattered condition of his garments.
+
+"There would not be much satisfaction in that," replied Jack, laughing.
+
+"It is probable," said I, "that each of us hit with one barrel and
+missed with the other."
+
+"And it is possible," added Jack, "that one of us hit with both, and the
+other missed with both.  All that I can positively affirm is that I
+fired both barrels at his shoulder--one after the other."
+
+"And all that I am certain of," said I, "is that I fired both barrels at
+his forehead, and that I discharged them both at once."
+
+"Did you?" said Peterkin, looking up quickly; "then, Ralph, I'm afraid
+you must give all the honour to Jack, for you have missed altogether."
+
+"How do you know that?"  I asked, in a somewhat piqued tone.
+
+"Simply enough.  If you fired both shots together at so short a
+distance, they would have been found close together wherever they had
+struck, whereas the two shots in the neck and shoulder are more than two
+feet apart."
+
+I was compelled to admit that there was much truth in the observation,
+but still felt unwilling to give up all claim to having assisted in
+slaying our first buffalo.  I pondered the subject a good deal during
+the remainder of the time we spent in cutting up and packing part of the
+buffalo meat, and in preparing to continue our journey, but could come
+at no satisfactory conclusion in my own mind, and, to say truth, I felt
+not a little crestfallen at my conduct in the whole affair.
+
+While wandering in this mood near the spot where the buffalo had been
+first wounded, I received a sudden and severe start on observing the
+leopard crouching within a couple of yards of me.  I saw it through the
+bushes quite distinctly, but could not make quite sure of its attitude.
+With a mingled cry of alarm and astonishment I sprang back to the place
+where I had left my rifle.
+
+Jack and Peterkin instantly ran up with their pieces cocked.
+
+"Where is it?" they cried in a breath.
+
+"There, crouching just behind that bush."
+
+Jack darted forward.
+
+"Crouching!" he cried, with a loud laugh, seizing the animal by the tail
+and dragging it forth; "why, it's dead--stone dead."
+
+"Dead as mutton," said Peterkin.  "Hallo! what's this?" he added in
+surprise.  "Two holes close together in its forehead, I do declare!
+Hooray!  Ralph, my boy, give us your paw!  You've missed the bull and
+hit the leopard!  If you haven't been and put two bullets right between
+its two eyes, I'm a Dutchman!"
+
+And so, in truth, it turned out.  I had aimed at the bull and hit the
+leopard.  So I left that spot not a little pleased with my bad aim and
+my good fortune.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+WHEREIN WILL BE FOUND MUCH THAT IS PHILOSOPHICAL.
+
+Having skinned the leopard and cut off as much of the buffalo meat as we
+could carry, we started for the negro village at a round pace, for we
+had already lost much time in our last adventure.  As we walked along I
+could not help meditating on the uncertainty of this life, and the
+terrible suddenness with which we might at any unexpected moment be cut
+off.  These thoughts led me naturally to reflect how important a matter
+it is that every one, no matter how young, should be in a state of
+preparedness to quit this world.
+
+I also reflected, and not without a feeling of shame, on my want of
+nerve, and was deeply impressed with the importance of boys being inured
+from childhood to trifling risks and light dangers of every possible
+description, such as tumbling into ponds and off trees, etcetera, in
+order to strengthen their nervous system.  I do not, of course, mean to
+say that boys ought deliberately to tumble into ponds or climb trees
+until they fall off; but they ought not to avoid the risk of such
+mishaps.  They ought to encounter such risks and many others
+perpetually.  They ought to practise leaping off heights into deep
+water.  They ought never to hesitate to cross a stream on a narrow
+unsafe plank _for fear of a ducking_.  They ought never to decline to
+climb up a tree to pull fruit merely because there is a _possibility_ of
+their falling off and breaking their necks.  I firmly believe that boys
+were intended to encounter all kinds of risks, in order to prepare them
+to meet and grapple with the risks and dangers incident to man's career
+with cool, cautious self-possession--a self-possession founded on
+experimental knowledge of the character and powers of their own spirits
+and muscles.  I also concluded that this reasoning applies to some
+extent to girls as well as boys, for they too are liable through life to
+occasional encounters with danger--such as meeting with mad bulls, being
+run away with on horseback, being upset in boats, being set on fire by
+means of crinoline; in all of which cases those who have been trained to
+risk slight mishaps during early life will find their nerves equal to
+the shock, and their minds cool and collected enough to look around and
+take hasty advantage of any opportunity of escape that may exist; while
+those who have been unhappily nurtured in excessive delicacy, and
+advised from the earliest childhood to "take care of themselves and
+carefully avoid all risks," will probably fall victims to their nervous
+alarms and the kind but injudicious training of parents or guardians.
+
+The more I pondered this subject the more deeply impressed did I become
+with its great importance to the well-being of mankind, and I was so
+profoundly engrossed with it that my companions utterly failed to engage
+me in general conversation as we walked briskly along through the
+forest.  Jack again and again attempted to draw my attention to the
+splendour of the curious specimens of tropical foliage and vegetation
+through which we passed; but I could not rouse myself to take interest
+therein.  In vain did Peterkin jest and rally me, and point out the
+monkeys that grinned at us ever and anon as we passed beneath them, or
+the serpents that glided more than once from our path, I was fascinated
+with my train of meditation, and as I could not then give it up until I
+had thought it out, so now I cannot pass from the subject until I have
+at least endeavoured to guard myself from misconception.
+
+I beg, then, that it will be understood that I do not by any means
+inculcate hare-brained recklessness, or a course of training that will
+foster that state of mind.  On the contrary, the course of training
+which I should like to see universally practised would naturally tend to
+counteract recklessness, for it would enable a boy to judge correctly as
+to what he could and could not do.  Take an illustration.  A naturally
+bold boy has been unwisely trained to be exceedingly careful of himself.
+He does not know the extent of his own courage, or the power and
+agility of his own muscles; he knows these things to some extent indeed,
+but owing to restraint he does not know them fully.  Hence he is liable
+both to over and under estimate them.
+
+This bold boy--we shall call him Tom--takes a walk into the country with
+a friend, whom we shall name Pat.  Pat is a bad boy, but he has been
+permitted to train his muscles as he pleased, and his natural
+disposition has led him to do difficult and sometimes slightly dangerous
+things.
+
+"You can't jump over that river, Tom," says Pat.
+
+"Perhaps not," replies Tom: "I never tried such a jump, because my
+mother tells me never to go where I am likely to tumble into the water."
+
+"Oh, your mother's a muff!" cries Pat.
+
+"Pat," says Tom, flushing with indignation and confronting his friend,
+"don't you ever say that again, else the friendship between you and me
+will come to an end.  I know you don't really mean what you say; but I
+won't allow you to speak disrespectfully of my mother."
+
+"Well, I won't," says Pat, "but _you're_ a muff, anyhow."
+
+"Perhaps I am," replies Tom.
+
+"Of course you are, because you're afraid to jump over that river, and
+I'm not.  So here goes."
+
+Pat thereupon jumps the river (he is a splendid leaper), and Tom
+hesitates.
+
+"Come along, Tom; don't be a hen."
+
+Tom gives way, alas! to a disobedient impulse, and dashing at the leap
+comes to the edge, when he finds, somehow, that he has not got the
+proper foot first for the spring--almost every boy knows the feeling I
+allude to; his heart fails, and he balks.
+
+"O Tom, what a nimini-pimini muff you are, to be sure!"
+
+Tom, as I have said, is a bold boy.  His blood boils at this; he rushes
+wildly at the bank, hurls himself recklessly into the air, barely
+reaches the opposite side with a scramble, and falls souse into the
+river, from which he issues, as Pat says amid peals of laughter, "like a
+half-drowned rat."
+
+Now, had Tom been permitted to follow the bent of his own bold impulses,
+he would have found out, years ago, how far and how high he could leap,
+and how far exactly he could depend on his own courage in certain
+circumstances; and he would either, on the one hand, have measured the
+leap with an accustomed eye, and declined to take it with a
+good-humoured admission that it was beyond his powers, or, on the other
+hand, he would calmly have collected his well and oft tried energies for
+the spring.  The proper foot, from long experience, would have come to
+the ground at the right time.  His mind, freed from all anxiety as to
+what he could accomplish, would have received a beneficial impulse from
+his friend's taunt.  No nervous dread of a ducking would have checked
+the completeness of his bound, because he would have often been ducked
+before, and would have discovered that in most cases, if the clothes be
+changed at once, a ducking is not worth mentioning--from a hydropathic
+point of view is, in fact, beneficial--and he would have cleared the
+river with comfort to himself and confusion to his friend, and without a
+ducking or the uneasiness of conscience caused by the knowledge that he
+had disobeyed his mother.  Had Peterkin not been trained to encounter
+danger, his natural boldness alone would never have enabled him to stand
+the charge of that buffalo bull.
+
+There are muffs in this world.  I do not refer to those hairy articles
+of female apparel in which ladies are wont to place their hands,
+handkerchiefs, and scent-bottles.  Although not given to the use of
+slang, I avail myself of it on this occasion, the word "muff" being
+eminently expressive of a certain class of boys, big as well as little,
+old as well as young.  There are three distinct classes of boys--namely,
+muffs, sensible fellows, and boasters.  I say there are three distinct
+classes, but I do not say that every boy belongs to one or other of
+those classes.  Those who have studied chemistry know that nature's
+elements are few.  Nearly all kinds of matter, and certainly all
+varieties of mind, are composite.  There are no pure and simple muffs.
+Most boasters have a good deal of the muff in them, and many muffs are
+boasters; while sensible fellows are occasionally tinged with a dash of
+both the bad qualities--they are, if I may be allowed to coin a word,
+_sensible-boasto-muffers_!  Still, for the sake of lucidity, I will
+maintain that there are three distinct phases of character in boys.
+
+The muff is a boy who from natural disposition, or early training, or
+both, is mild, diffident, and gentle.  So far he is an estimable
+character.  Were this all, he were not a muff.  In order to deserve that
+title he must be timid and unenthusiastic.  He must refuse to venture
+anything that will subject him to danger, however slight.  He must be
+afraid of a shower of rain; afraid of dogs in general, good and bad
+alike; disinclined to try bold things; indifferent about learning to
+swim.  He must object to the game called "dumps," because the blows from
+the ball are sometimes severe; and be a sworn enemy to single-stick,
+because the whacks are uncommonly painful.  So feeling and acting, he
+will, when he becomes a man, find himself unable to act in the common
+emergencies of life--to protect a lady from insolence, to guard his
+house from robbery, or to save his own child should it chance to fall
+into the water.  The muff is addicted to boasting sometimes, especially
+when in the company of girls; but when on the playground he hangs on the
+skirts of society, and sings very small.  There are many boys, alas! who
+are made muffs by injudicious training, who would have grown up to be
+bold, manly fellows had they been otherwise treated.  There are also
+many kinds of muffs.  Some are good-hearted, amiable muffs; others are
+petty, sneaking muffs.
+
+With many of the varieties I have a strong sympathy, and for their
+comfort I would say that muffs may cure themselves if they choose to try
+energetically.
+
+Courage and cowardice are not two distinct and entirely antagonistic
+qualities.  To a great extent those qualities are the result of
+training.  Every courageous man has a slight amount of cowardice in his
+composition, and all cowards have a certain infusion of courage.  The
+matador stands before the infuriated bull, and awaits its charge with
+unflinching firmness, not because he has more courage than his comrades
+in the ring who run away, but because long training has enabled him to
+make almost certain of killing the bull.  He knows what he has done
+before, he feels that he can do it again, therefore he stands like a
+hero.  Were a doubt of his capacity to cross his mind for an instant,
+his cheek would blanch, his hand would tremble, and, ten to one, he
+would turn and flee like the rest.
+
+Let muffs, therefore, learn to swim, to leap, and to run.  Let them
+wrestle with boys bigger than themselves, regardless of being thrown.
+Let them practise "jinking" with their companions, so that if even they
+be chased by a mad bull, they will, if unable to get out of his way by
+running, escape perhaps by jinking.  Let them learn to leap off
+considerable heights into deep water, so that, if ever called on to leap
+off the end of a pier or the side of a ship to save a fellow-creature,
+they may do so with confidence and promptitude.  Let them even put on
+"the gloves," and become regardless of a swelled nose, in order that
+they may be able to defend themselves or others from sudden assault.  So
+doing they will become sensible fellows, whose character I have thus to
+some extent described.  Of course, I speak of sensible fellows only with
+reference to this one subject of training the nerves and muscles.  Let
+it never be forgotten that there are men who, although sensible in this
+respect, are uncommonly senseless in regard to other things of far
+higher moment.
+
+As to boasters, I will dismiss them with a few words.  They are too
+easily known to merit particular description.  They are usually loud and
+bold in the drawing-room, but rather mild in the field.  They are
+desperately egotistical, fond of exaggeration, and prone to depreciate
+the deeds of their comrades.  They make bad soldiers and sailors, and
+are usually held in contempt by others, whatever they may think of
+themselves.  I may wind up this digression--into which I have been
+tempted by an earnest desire to warn my fellow-men against the errors of
+nervous and muscular education, which, in my case, led to the weak
+conduct of which I had been guilty that day--I may wind up this
+digression, I say, by remarking that the boys who are most loved in this
+world are those who are lambs, _almost_ muffs, in the drawing-room, but
+lions in the field.
+
+How long I should have gone on pondering this subject I know not, but
+Peterkin somewhat rudely interrupted me by uttering a wild scream, and
+beginning to caper as if he were a madman.  I was much alarmed as well
+as surprised at this course of conduct; for although my friend was an
+inveterate joker, he was the very reverse of what is termed a buffoon,
+and never indulged in personally grotesque actions with a view to make
+people laugh--such as making faces, a practice which, in ninety-nine
+cases out of a hundred, causes the face-makers to look idiotical rather
+than funny, and induces beholders to pity them, and to feel very
+uncomfortable sensations.
+
+Peterkin's yells, instead of ceasing, continued and increased.
+
+"Why, what's wrong?"  I cried, in much alarm.
+
+Instead of answering, Peterkin darted away through the wood like a
+maniac, tearing off his clothes as he went.  At the same moment Jack
+began to roar like a bull, and became similarly distracted.  It now
+flashed across me that they must have been attacked by an army of the
+Bashikouay ant, a species of ant which is so ferocious as to prove a
+perfect scourge to the parts of the country over which it travels.  The
+thought had scarcely occurred to me when I was painfully convinced of
+its accuracy.  The ants suddenly came to me, and in an instant I was
+covered from head to foot by the passionate creatures, which hit me so
+severely that I also began to scream and to tear off my garments; for I
+had been told by the trader who accompanied us to this part of the
+country that this was the quickest method of getting rid of them.
+
+We all three fled, and soon left the army of Bashikouay ants behind us,
+undressing, as we ran, in the best way we could; and when we at length
+came to a halt we found ourselves almost in a state of nudity.  Hastily
+divesting ourselves of the remainder of our apparel, we assisted each
+other to clear away the ants, though we could not rid ourselves of the
+painful effects of the bites with which we were covered.
+
+"What dreadful villains!" gasped Peterkin, as he busied himself in
+hastily picking off the furious creatures from his person.
+
+"It would be curious to observe the effect of an army of soldiers
+stepping into an army of Bashikouays," said Jack.  "They would be routed
+instantly.  No discipline or courage could hold them together for two
+minutes after they were attacked."
+
+I was about to make some reply, when our attention was attracted by a
+shout at no great distance, and in a few seconds we observed, to our
+confusion, the trader and a band of negroes approaching us.  We hurried
+on our clothes as rapidly as possible, and were a little more
+presentable when they arrived.  They had a good laugh at us, of course,
+and the naked blacks seemed to be much tickled with the idea that we had
+been compelled to divest ourselves, even for a short time, of what they
+considered our unnecessary covering.
+
+"We thought you were lost," said the trader, "and I began to blame
+myself for letting you away into the woods, where so many dangers may be
+encountered, without a guide.  But what have you got there? meat of some
+kind?  Your guns seem to have done service on this your first
+expedition."
+
+"Ay, that they have," answered Jack.  "We've killed a buffalo bull, and
+if you send your black fellows back on our track for some hours they'll
+come to the carcass, of which we could not, of course, bring very much
+away on our shoulders, which are not accustomed yet to heavy loads."
+
+"Besides," added Peterkin, "we were anxious to get back in time for your
+elephant-hunt, else we should have brought more meat with us.  But Jack
+has not mentioned what I consider our chief prize, the honour of
+shooting which belongs to my friend Ralph Rover.--Come, Ralph, unfasten
+your pack and let them see it."
+
+Although unwilling to put off more time, I threw down my pack, and
+untying it, displayed my leopard skin.  The shout of delight and
+surprise which the sight of it drew from the negroes was so enthusiastic
+that I at once perceived I was considered to have secured a great prize.
+
+"Why, Mr Rover, you're in luck," said the trader, examining the skin;
+"it's not every day that one falls in with such a fine leopard as that.
+And you have already made a reputation as a daring hunter, for the
+niggers consider it a bold and dangerous thing to attack these critters;
+they're so uncommon fierce."
+
+"Indeed I do not by any means deserve such a reputation," said I,
+refastening my pack, "for the shot was entirely accidental; so I pray
+you, good sir, to let the negroes know that, as I have no desire to go
+under a false flag, as my friend Peterkin would say--"
+
+"Go under a false flag!" exclaimed Peterkin, in contempt.  "Sail under
+false colours, man!  That's what you should have said.  Whatever you do,
+Ralph, never misquote a man.  Go under a false flag! ha, ha!  Why, you
+might just as well have said, `progress beneath assumed bunting.'"
+
+"Well, accidental or otherwise," said the trader, "you've got credit for
+the deed, and your fame will be spread among the tribe whether you will
+or not; for these fellows are such incorrigible liars themselves that
+they will never believe you if you tell them the shot was accidental.
+They will only give you credit for some strange though unknown motive in
+telling such a falsehood."
+
+While the trader was speaking I observed that the negroes were talking
+with the eager looks and gesticulations that are peculiar to the
+Africans when excited, and presently two or three of them came forward
+and asked several questions, while their eyes sparkled eagerly and their
+black faces shone with animation as they pointed into the woods in the
+direction whence we had come.
+
+"They want to know where you have left the carcass of the leopard, and
+if you have taken away the brains," said the trader, turning to me.  "I
+daresay you know--if not you'll soon come to find out--that all the
+nigger tribes in Africa are sunk in gross and cruel superstitions.  They
+have more fetishes, and greegrees, and amulets, and wooden gods, and
+charms, than they know what to do with, and have surrounded themselves
+with spiritual mysteries that neither themselves nor anybody else can
+understand.  Among other things, they attach a very high value to the
+brains of the leopard, because they imagine that he who possesses them
+will be rendered extraordinarily bold and successful in hunting.  These
+fellows are in hopes that, being ignorant of the value of leopard
+brains, you have left them in the carcass, and are burning with anxiety
+to be off after them."
+
+"Poor creatures!" said I, "they are heartily welcome to the brains; and
+the carcass lies not more than four hours' march from this spot, I
+should think,--Is it not so, Jack?"
+
+My friend nodded assent, and the trader, turning to the expectant crowd
+of natives, gave them the information they desired.  No sooner had he
+finished than with loud cries they turned and darted away, tossing their
+arms wildly in the air, and looking more like to a band of scared
+monkeys than to human beings.
+
+"They're queer fellows," remarked Peterkin.
+
+"So they are," replied the trader, "and they're kindly fellows too--
+jovial and good-humoured, except when under the influence of their
+abominable superstitions.  Then they become incarnate fiends, and commit
+deeds of cruelty that make one's blood run cold to think of."
+
+I felt much saddened by these remarks, and asked the trader if the
+missionaries accomplished any good among them.
+
+"Oh yes," he replied, "they do much good, such of them at least as
+really are missionaries; for it does not follow that every one who wears
+a black coat and white neck-cloth, and goes abroad, is a missionary.
+But what can a few men scattered along the coast here and there, however
+earnest they be, do among the thousands upon thousands of savages that
+wander about in the interior of Africa?  No good will ever be done in
+this land, to any great extent, until traders and missionaries go hand
+in hand into the interior, and the system of trade is entirely
+remodelled."
+
+"From what you remark," said I, feeling much interested, "I should
+suppose that you have given this subject a good deal of attention."
+
+"I have.  But there are people in this world who, supposing that because
+I am a trader I am therefore prone to exalt trade to an equality with
+religion, do not give me credit for disinterestedness when I speak.
+Perhaps you are one of these."
+
+"Not I, in truth," said I, earnestly.  "My chief desire in conversing
+with mankind is to acquire knowledge; I therefore listen with attention
+and respect to the opinions of others, instead of endeavouring to assert
+my own.  In the present instance, being ignorant, I have no opinions to
+assert."
+
+"I wish there were more people in your country," replied the trader,
+"who felt as you do.  I would tell them that, although a trader, I
+regard the salvation of men's souls as the most important work in this
+world.  I would argue that until you get men to listen, you cannot
+preach the gospel to them; that the present system of trade in Africa is
+in itself antagonistic to religion, being based upon dishonesty, and
+that, therefore, the natives will not listen to missionaries--of course,
+in some cases they will; for I believe that the gospel, when truly
+preached, is never preached in vain--but they will throw every possible
+impediment in their way.  I would tell them that in order to make the
+path of the missionary practicable, the system of trade must be
+inverted, the trader and the missionary must go hand in hand, and
+commerce and religion--although incomparably different in their nature
+and ends--must act the part of brother and sister if anything _great_ is
+to be done for the poor natives of Africa."
+
+Conversing thus we beguiled the time pleasantly while we proceeded
+rapidly on our way, for the day was drawing to a close, and we were
+still at a considerable distance from the native village.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR A GRAND HUNT.
+
+All was bustle, noise, and activity in the village, or, more correctly
+speaking, in the native town of his Majesty King Jambai, early in the
+morning after our arrival.  A great elephant-hunt had been resolved on.
+The hunters were brushing up their spears and old guns--all of which
+latter were flint-locks that had been procured from traders, and were
+not worth more than a few shillings.  The women were busy preparing
+breakfast, and the children were playing around their huts.
+
+These huts were of the simplest construction--made of bamboo, roofed
+with large palm-leaves, and open in front.  The wants of savages are
+generally few; their household furniture is very plain, and there is
+little of it.  A large hut near to that of his sable majesty had been
+set apart for the trader and his party during our residence at the town.
+In this we had spent the night as pleasantly as we could, but the
+mosquitoes kept up an unceasing warfare upon us, so that daylight was
+welcomed gladly when it came.
+
+On going to the hut of King Jambai, who had invited us to breakfast with
+him, we found the Princess Oninga alone, seated in the king's armchair
+and smoking her pipe with uncommon gusto.  She had spent the early part
+of the morning in preparing breakfast for her father and ourselves, and
+was now resting from her labours.
+
+"You are early astir, Princess Oninga," said the trader as we entered
+and took our seats round the fire, for at that hour the air felt chilly.
+
+The princess took her pipe from her lips and admitted that she was,
+blowing a long thin cloud of smoke into the air with a sigh of
+satisfaction.
+
+"We are ready for breakfast," added the trader.  "Is the king at home?"
+
+"He is in the woods, but will be back quickly."  With this remark the
+princess rose, and knocking the ashes out of her pipe, left the tent.
+
+"Upon my word, she's a cool beauty," said Peterkin.
+
+"I should rather say a black one," remarked Jack.
+
+"Perhaps an odd one would be the most appropriate term," said I.  "Did
+you ever see such a headdress?"
+
+The manner in which the Princess Oninga had seen fit to dress her head
+was indeed peculiar, I may say ludicrous.  Her woolly hair had been
+arranged in the form of a cocked hat, with a horn projecting in front,
+and at a short distance off it might easily have been mistaken for the
+headpiece of a general officer minus the feathers.  There was little in
+the way of artificial ornament about it, but the princess wore a number
+of heavy brass rings on her arms and ankles.  Those on the latter
+reached half-way up to her knees, and they were so heavy that her walk
+was little better than a clumsy waddle.  Before we could pass further
+comment on her appearance, King Jambai entered, and saluted us by taking
+us each separately and rubbing noses with us.  This done, he ordered in
+breakfast, which consisted of roast and boiled plantains, ground nuts,
+roast fowl, and roast pig; so we fell to at once, and being exceedingly
+hungry after our long walk of the day before, made a hearty meal.
+
+"Now, sir," said Jack, when our repast was about concluded, "as you are
+going to leave us soon, you had better arrange with the king about
+getting us an interpreter and supplying us with a few men to carry our
+goods.  I think you said there was once a man in the tribe who spoke a
+little English.  Have you found out whether he is alive?"
+
+"Yes; I have heard that he is alive and well, and is expected in every
+day from a hunting expedition.  He is a splendid hunter and a capital
+fellow.  His name is Makarooroo, and if you get him you will be
+fortunate."
+
+"Then ask his black majesty," said Peterkin, "as quick as you please,
+for, to say truth, I'm rather anxious on this point.  I feel that we
+should never get on without a good interpreter."
+
+To our satisfaction we found that the king was quite willing to do all
+that we wished and a great deal more.  In fact, we soon perceived that
+he felt highly honoured by our visit, and had boasted not a little of
+"_his white men_" to the chiefs of neighbouring tribes, some of whom had
+come a considerable distance to see us.
+
+"You have made quite a conquest, gentlemen, of worthy Jambai," said the
+trader, after translating the king's favourable reply.  "The fact is he
+is pleased with the liberality you have shown towards him in the way of
+gifts, and is proud of the confidence you have placed in him.  Had you
+been bent on a trading expedition, he would have opposed your further
+progress; but knowing that you are simply hunters, he is anxious to
+assist you by all the means at his command.  He is surprised, indeed, at
+your taking so much trouble and coming so far merely to kill wild
+animals, for he cannot understand the idea of sporting.  He himself
+hunts for the sake of procuring meat."
+
+"Can he not understand," said Peterkin, "that _we_ hunt for fun?"
+
+"No, he don't quite see through that.  He said to me a few minutes ago,
+`Have these men no meat at home, that they come all this long way to get
+it?'  I told him that you had plenty, and then endeavoured to explain
+your idea of hunting `for fun.'  But he shook his head, and I think he
+does not believe you."
+
+At this point in our conversation the king rose and gave the signal to
+set out on the hunting expedition.  Instantly the whole population of
+the town turned out and rushed to the banks of the river, near which it
+stood, where canoes were prepared for us.  Suddenly there arose a great
+shout, and the name "Makarooroo, Makarooroo," passed from mouth to
+mouth.  Presently a fine, tall, deep-chested and broad-shouldered negro
+stepped up to the king and laid a leopard skin at his feet, while the
+people shouted and danced with delight at the success of their
+companion; for, as I have already stated, it is deemed a bold feat to
+attack and slay a leopard single-handed.
+
+While the commotion caused by this event was going on, I said to the
+trader--
+
+"How comes it that Makarooroo can speak English?"
+
+"He spent a couple of years on the coast, in the service of a
+missionary, and during that time attended the missionary school, where
+he picked up a smattering of English and a trifle of geography and
+arithmetic; but although a stout, sturdy hunter, and an intelligent man,
+he was a lazy student, and gave the good missionary much trouble to
+hammer the little he knows into his thick skull.  At last he grew tired
+of it, and returned to his tribe; but he brought his Bible with him, and
+I am told is very diligent in the study of it.  His education has gained
+for him a great reputation as a fetishman, or doctor of mysteries, among
+his people.  I used often to see him at school hammering away at m-a,
+ma-b-a, ba, and so on, amid a group of children.  He used to sit beside
+the king--"
+
+"The king!" said I, in surprise.
+
+"Ay; the king of that district became a Christian, and he and the queen,
+with one or two others of the royal household, used to attend school
+with the children every day, and their diligence in studying the A B C
+was beyond all praise.  But they were terribly stupid.  The children
+beat them easily, showing how true is the saying that `youth is the time
+to learn.'  The king was always booby, and Makarooroo was always beside
+him."
+
+As the trader spoke, Makarooroo came forward and shook hands with him in
+the English fashion.  He was then introduced to us, and expressed his
+willingness to become our interpreter in somewhat curious but quite
+comprehensible English.  As I looked at his intelligent, good-natured
+countenance, I could not help thinking that the trader had underrated
+his intellectual powers.
+
+"He's a funny dog that Makarooroo," said Peterkin, as our interpreter
+hastened away to fetch his rusty old gun and spears; for he meant to
+join our hunting expedition, although he had only that moment arrived
+from a long and fatiguing chase.
+
+"Do you think so?" said Jack.
+
+"I don't agree with you," said I; "to me he seems rather of a grave and
+quiet disposition."
+
+"O Ralph, what a bat you are!  He was grave enough just now, truly; but
+did you not observe the twinkle in his eye when he spoke to us in
+English?  Depend on it he's a funny dog."
+
+"There must be freemasonry, then, among funny dogs," I retorted, "for
+Jack and I don't perceive it."
+
+"Is this our canoe?" inquired Jack of the trader.
+
+"It is."
+
+"Then let's jump in."
+
+In a few seconds the river was crowded with a fleet of small canoes, and
+we all paddled quickly up the stream, which was sluggish at that part.
+We did not intend to proceed more than a few miles by water, as the
+place where game was expected was at some distance from the river.  I
+felt some regret at this, for the trip up the river was to me most
+enchanting.
+
+Every yard we advanced new beauties of scenery were revealed to view.
+The richness of the tropical vegetation seemed in this place to
+culminate, it was so rank and gorgeous.  The day was fine, too, and all
+the strange-looking creatures--ugly and beautiful, large and small--
+peculiar to those regions, seemed to have resolved on a general peace in
+order to bask in the sunshine and enjoy the glorious weather.  Man alone
+was bent on war, and our track, alas! was marked with blood wherever we
+passed along.  I pondered much on this subject, and wondered at the
+bloodthirsty spirit which seems to be natural to man in all conditions
+and climes.  Then I thought of the difficulty these poor Africans have
+at times in procuring food, the frequency with which they are reduced
+almost to a state of starvation, and I ceased to wonder that they shot
+and speared everything that came in their way.
+
+We proceeded up the left bank of the river, keeping close in to the
+shore in order to obtain the protection of the overhanging boughs and
+foliage; for the sun soon began to grow hot, and in the middle of the
+day became so intense that I sometimes feared that I or my companions
+would receive a sunstroke.  I confess that the subject of health often
+caused me much anxiety; for although I knew that we were all old
+experienced travellers--though young in years--and had become in a great
+degree inured to hardships, I feared that the deadly climate of Central
+Africa might prove too much for our European constitutions.  By the free
+use of quinine, however, and careful attention to the roles of health as
+far as circumstances would permit, we were fortunate enough to keep in
+excellent health and spirits during the whole course of our sojourn
+there; for which, when I thought of the hundreds of Europeans who had
+perished on that deadly coast without even venturing into the interior,
+I felt very thankful.  One of our chief delights, to which I in a great
+degree attribute our uninterrupted health, was bathing daily in the
+streams and ponds with which we fell in, or on which we paddled during
+our travels.  On these occasions we were fain, however, to be exceeding
+careful in the selection of our bathing-pool, as crocodiles and
+alligators, and I know not what other hideous animals, were constantly
+on the lookout for prey, and I make no doubt would have been very ready
+to try the flavour of a morsel of English food had we given them the
+chance.
+
+On these occasions, when we had made sure of our pool, we were wont to
+paddle about in the cool refreshing stream, and recall to mind the
+splendid dips we had had together six years before in the clear waters
+of the coral island.  Since that time Peterkin had learned to swim well,
+which was not only a source of much satisfaction and gratification to
+himself now, but, he told me, had been the means of preserving not only
+his own life on more than one occasion, but the life of a little child
+which he had the good fortune to rescue from drowning when cruising off
+the island of Madagascar.
+
+Peterkin used to speak very strongly when talking on this subject, and I
+observed, from the unusual seriousness of his manner, that he felt
+deeply too.
+
+"Ralph," he said to me one day, "half the world is mad--I am not sure
+that I might not say three-quarters of the world is mad--and I'm quite
+certain that all the _ladies_ in the world are mad with the exception of
+the brown ladies of the South Seas, and a few rare specimens elsewhere;
+they're all mad together in reference to the matter of swimming.  Now
+that I have learned it nothing is so easy, and any one who is not as
+blind as a rheumatic owl must see that nothing is more important; for
+every one almost is subject to being pitched now and then into deep
+water, and if he can't swim it's all up with him.  Why, every time an
+angler goes out to _fish_ he runs the chance of slipping and being swept
+into a deep hole, where, if he cannot swim, he is certain to be drowned.
+And yet five strokes would save his life.  _Good_ swimming is by no
+means what is wanted; swimming of any kind, however poor, is all that is
+desiderated.  Every time a lady goes to have a row on a lake she is
+liable to be upset by the clumsiness of those who accompany her, and
+although it may be close to shore, if she cannot swim, down she goes to
+the bottom.  And _floating_ won't do.  Some ladies delude themselves
+with the idea that floating is of great value.  In nine cases out of ten
+it is of no value at all; for unless water be perfectly smooth and
+still, a person cannot float so as to keep the waves from washing over
+the face, in which case choking is the certain result.  There is no
+excuse for not learning to swim.  In most large cities there are
+swimming-baths; if the sea is not available, a river is, everywhere.  I
+tell you what it is, Ralph: people who don't learn to swim are--are--I
+was going to say asses, but that would be an insult to the much-maligned
+long-eared animal; and parents who don't teach their offspring to swim
+deserve to be drowned in butter-milk; and I wish I saw--no, I _don't_
+quite wish I saw them all drowned in that way, but I do wish that I
+could impress upon mankind over the length and breadth of this rotund
+world the great, the immense, the intense importance of boys _and girls_
+being taught to swim."
+
+"You make use of strong language," said I.
+
+"Quite a powerful orator," added Jack, laughing.
+
+"Bah!" exclaimed Peterkin; "your reception of this grand truth is but a
+type of the manner in which it will be received by the pig-headed world.
+What's the use of preaching common sense?  I'm a perfect donkey!"
+
+"Nay, Peterkin," said Jack; "I appreciate what you say, and have no
+doubt whatever that your remarks, if made public, would create quite a
+revolution in the juvenile world, and convert them speedily into aquatic
+animals.  Did you ever think of sending your views on that subject to
+the _Times_?"
+
+"The _Times_!" cried Peterkin.
+
+"Yes, the _Times_; why not?"
+
+"Because," said Peterkin slowly, "I once sent a letter to that great but
+insolent periodical, and what do you think it did?"
+
+"Can't tell, I'm sure."
+
+"_Took no notice of it whatever_!" said Peterkin, with a look of
+ineffable disgust.
+
+But to return from this digression.  I was much struck with the splendid
+contrast of colours that met my eye everywhere here.  The rich variety
+of greens in the different trees harmonised with the bright pink plums
+and scarlet berries, and these latter were almost dimmed in their lustre
+by the bright plumage of the birds, which I felt intense longing to
+procure, many of them being quite new to me, and, I am certain, totally
+unknown to naturalists, while others I recognised with delight as
+belonging to several of the species of which I had read in
+ornithological works.  I tried hard to shoot several of these lovely
+creatures, intending to stuff them, but, to my regret, was utterly
+unable to hit them.  Seeing this, Peterkin took pity on me, and sitting
+down in the bow of our canoe, picked off all the birds I pointed out to
+him as we passed, with unerring precision.  Most of them fell into the
+water, and were easily secured, while one or two toppled off the
+branches into the canoe.  Several of them he shot on the wing--a feat
+which even filled Jack with surprise, and so astounded the natives that
+they surrounded our canoe at last, and gazed open-mouthed at my friend,
+whom they evidently regarded as the greatest fetishman that had ever
+come amongst them.
+
+He was obliged to stop at last and lay down his gun in order to make the
+natives cease from crowding round us and delaying our voyage.  A number
+of iguanas were observed on the branches of the trees that overhung the
+stream.  They dropped into the water as we approached; but the natives
+succeeded in spearing a good many, and I afterwards found that they
+considered them excellent food.
+
+If I was charmed with the birds, Peterkin was no less delighted with the
+monkeys that chattered at us as we passed along.  I never saw a man
+laugh as he did that day.  He almost became hysterical, so much was he
+tickled with their antics; and the natives, who have a keen sense of the
+ludicrous, seemed quite to sympathise with his spirit, although, of
+course, what amused him could not have similarly affected them, seeing
+that they were used to monkeys from infancy.
+
+"There's something new!" exclaimed Jack, as we rounded a bend in the
+river and came in view of an open flat where it assumed somewhat the
+aspect of a pond or small lake.  He pointed to a flock of birds standing
+on a low rock, which I instantly recognised to be pelicans.
+
+"Surely," said I, "pelicans are not new to you!"
+
+"Certainly not; but if you look a little more attentively, I think you
+will find material for your note-book."
+
+Jack was right.  I observed a very fine fish-hawk circling over the head
+of one of the pelicans.  Its head and neck were white, and its body was
+of a reddish chocolate colour.  Just as we came in sight, the pelican
+caught a fine fish, which it stowed away safe in the pouch under its
+chin.  The sly hawk, which had been watching for this, immediately made
+a descent towards its victim, making a considerable noise with its wings
+as it came down.  Hearing this, the pelican looked hastily up, and
+supposing that a terrible and deadly assault was about to be made,
+opened its mouth and screamed in terror.  This was just what the hawk
+wanted.  The open bill revealed the fish in the pouch.  Down he swooped,
+snatched it out, and then soared away with his ill-gotten gains in his
+talons.
+
+"Oh, what a thief!" exclaimed Peterkin.
+
+"And the pelican seems to take his loss in a remarkably philosophical
+manner," observed Jack.
+
+To my surprise the great stupid bird, instead of flying away, as I had
+expected, quietly resumed his fishing as if nothing had happened.  No
+doubt he was well pleased to find himself still alive, and it is not
+improbable that the hawk made several more meals at the expense of his
+long-beaked friend after we had passed by.
+
+We soon put him to flight, however, by landing near the spot where he
+stood, this being the place where we were to quit our canoes and pass
+through the jungle on foot.  The hunters now prepared themselves for
+action, for the recent tracks of elephants were seen on the bank of the
+stream, and the natives said they could not be far off.  Jack and
+Peterkin were armed with immensely heavy rifles, which carried balls of
+the weight of six-ounces.  I carried my trusty, double-barrelled
+fowling-piece, which is of the largest size, and which I preferred to a
+rifle, because, not being a good shot, I resolved, on all occasions, to
+reserve my fire until we should come to close quarters with game,
+leaving my more expert comrades to take the longer shots.  We had also
+two natives--one being our guide, Makarooroo, who carried Jack and
+Peterkin's double-barrelled guns as a reserve.  These were loaded, of
+course, with ball.
+
+"This looks something like business," said Jack, as he leaned on his
+heavy rifle and looked at the natives, who were selecting their spears
+and otherwise making preparations.
+
+"It does," replied Peterkin.  "Are you loaded?"
+
+"Ay, and I have just examined the caps to see that they are dry; for
+it's not like grouse-shooting on the Scottish hills this African
+hunting, depend upon it.  A snapping cap might cost us our lives,--
+Ralph, my boy, you must keep well in rear.  I don't want to hurt your
+feelings, but it won't do to go in front when you cannot depend on your
+nerves."
+
+I experienced a feeling of sadness not unmingled with shame as my friend
+said this, but I could not question the justness of his remark, and I
+knew well that he would not have made it at all, but for his anxiety
+lest I should run recklessly into danger, which I might find myself,
+when too late, unable to cope with.  I was careful, however, to conceal
+my feelings as I replied with a smile--
+
+"You are right, Jack.  I shall act the part of a support, while you and
+Peterkin skirmish in advance."
+
+"And be careful," said Peterkin, solemnly, "that you don't fire into us
+by mistake."
+
+Somewhat of Peterkin's own spirit came over me as I replied, "Indeed, I
+have been thinking of that, and I'm not sure that I can restrain myself
+when I see a chimpanzee monkey and a gorilla walking through the woods
+before me."
+
+"I think we'd better take his gun from him," suggested Jack.
+
+At this moment the king gave the signal to advance, so we shouldered our
+weapons and joined him.  As we walked rapidly along, Jack suggested that
+we should allow the natives to kill any elephants we might fall in with
+in their own way, so as to observe how they managed it, rather than try
+to push ourselves forward on this our first expedition.  We all agreed
+to this, and shortly after we came to the place which elephants were
+known to frequent.
+
+Here great preparations had evidently been made for them.  A space of
+more than a mile was partially enclosed by what might be termed a vine
+wall.  The huge, thorny, creeping vines had been torn down from the
+trees and woven into a rude sort of network, through which it was almost
+impossible for any animal except an elephant to break.  This was
+intended--not to stop the elephant altogether, but to entangle and
+retard him in his flight, until the hunters could kill him with their
+spears.  The work, we were given to understand, was attended with
+considerable danger, for some of the natives were occasionally caught by
+the thorny vines when flying from the charge of the infuriated animal,
+and were instantly stamped to death by his ponderous feet.
+
+I felt a new and powerful excitement creep over me as I saw the natives
+extend themselves in a wide semicircle of nearly two miles in extent,
+and begin to advance with loud shouts and cries, in order to drive the
+game towards the vines, and the flashing eyes and compressed lips of my
+two companions showed that they were similarly affected.  We determined
+to keep together and follow close on that part of the line where the
+king was.
+
+"You no be 'fraid?" said Makarooroo, looking down at Peterkin, who, he
+evidently supposed, was neither mentally nor physically adapted for an
+African hunter.
+
+Peterkin was so tickled with the question that he suddenly began to
+tremble like an aspen leaf, and to chatter with his teeth and display
+all the symptoms of abject terror.  Pointing over Makarooroo's shoulder
+into the bush behind him, he gasped, "The leopard!"
+
+The negro uttered a hideous yell, and springing nearly his own height
+into the air, darted behind a tree with the agility of a wild-cat.
+
+Instantly Peterkin resumed his composure, and turning round with a look
+of cool surprise, said--
+
+"What! you're not afraid, Makarooroo?"  The good-humoured fellow burst
+into a loud laugh on perceiving the practical joke that had been passed
+on him, and it was evident that the incident, trifling though it was,
+had suddenly raised his estimation of Peterkin to a very exalted pitch.
+
+We now began to draw near to the enclosure, and I was beginning to fear
+that our hunt was to prove unsuccessful that day.  A considerable
+quantity of small game had passed us, alarmed by the cries of the
+natives; but we purposely withheld our fire, although I saw that Jack
+was sorely tempted once or twice, when several beautiful gazelles and
+one or two wild pigs ran past within shot.  Presently we heard a shrill
+trumpeting sound, which Peterkin, who had hunted in the forests of
+Ceylon, told us, in an excited voice, was the cry of the elephant.  We
+hastened forward with our utmost speed, when suddenly we were brought to
+a stand by hearing a tremendous roar close in front of us.  Immediately
+after, a large male lion bounded from among the bushes, and with one
+stroke of his enormous paw struck down a negro who stood not twenty
+yards from us.  The terrible brute stood for an instant or two, lashing
+his sides with his tail and glaring defiance.  It chanced that I
+happened to be nearest to him, and that the position of the tangled
+underwood prevented my companions from taking good aim; so without
+waiting for them, being anxious to save, if possible, the life of the
+prostrate negro, I fired both barrels into the lion's side.  Giving
+utterance to another terrible roar, he bounded away into the bush,
+scattering the negroes who came in his way, and made his escape, to our
+great disappointment.
+
+We found, to our horror, on going up to the fallen hunter, that he was
+quite dead.  His skull had been literally smashed in, as if it had
+received a blow from a sledge-hammer.
+
+I cannot describe my feelings on beholding thus, for the first time, the
+king of beasts in all the savage majesty of strength and freedom,
+coupled with the terrible death of a human being.  My brain was in a
+whirl of excitement; I scarce knew what I was doing.  But I had no time
+to think, for almost immediately after firing the shots at the lion, two
+elephants came crashing through the bushes.  One was between ten and
+eleven feet high, the other could not have been less than twelve feet.
+I had never seen anything like this in the menageries of England, and
+their appearance, as they burst thus suddenly on my vision, was
+something absolutely appalling.
+
+Those who have only seen the comparatively small and sluggish animals
+that are wont to ring their bells to attract attention, and to feed on
+gingerbread nuts from the hands of little boys, can form no idea of the
+terrible appearance of the gigantic monsters of Africa as they go
+tearing in mad fury through the forests with their enormous ears, and
+tails, and trunks erect, their ponderous tusks glistening in the
+sunshine, and their wicked little eyes flashing like balls of fire as
+they knock down, rend asunder, and overturn all that comes in their way.
+
+The two that now approached us in full career were flying before a crowd
+of negroes who had already fixed a number of spears in their sides, from
+which the blood was flowing copiously.  To say that the bushes went down
+before them like grass would not give a correct idea of the ponderous
+rush of these creatures.  Trees of three and four inches diameter were
+run against and snapped off like twigs, without proving in any degree
+obstructive.
+
+By this time the negroes had crowded in from all sides, and as the
+elephants approached the place where we stood, a perfect cloud of spears
+and javelins descended on their devoted sides.  I observed that many of
+the active natives had leaped up into the trees and discharged their
+spears from above, while others, crouching behind fallen trees or
+bushes, threw them from below, so that in a few seconds dozens of spears
+entered their bodies at every conceivable angle, and they appeared as if
+suddenly transformed into monstrous porcupines or hedgehogs.  There was
+something almost ludicrous in this, but the magnitude and aspect of the
+animals were too terrible, and our danger was too imminent, to permit
+anything like comic ideas to enter our brains.  I observed, too, that
+the natives were perfectly wild with excitement.  Their black faces
+worked convulsively, and their white eyes and teeth glittered as they
+leaped and darted about in a state of almost perfect nudity, so that
+their aspect was quite demoniacal.
+
+The suddenness and violence of the attack made near to us had the effect
+of turning the elephants aside, and the next instant they were tearing
+and wrenching themselves through the meshes of the tough and thorny
+vines.  The natives closed in with wild cries and with redoubled energy.
+Nothing surprised me so much as to observe the incredible number of
+spears that were sticking all over these creatures, and the amount of
+blood that they lost, without any apparent diminution of strength
+resulting.  It seemed as if no human power could kill them, and at that
+moment I almost doubted Peterkin's assertion that he had, while in
+Ceylon, actually killed elephants with a single ball.
+
+While Jack and Peterkin and I were gazing in deep interest and surprise
+at the curious struggle going on before us, and holding ourselves in
+readiness to act, should there be any chance of our game escaping, the
+larger of the two elephants succeeded in disentangling himself by
+backing out of the snare.  He then wheeled round and charged straight at
+King Jambai, who stood close to us, with incredible fury.  The beast, as
+it came on with the bristling spears all over it, the blood spirting
+from its innumerable wounds, and trumpeting shrill with rage, seemed to
+me like some huge unearthly phantom.  It was with difficulty I could
+believe the whole scene other than a hideous dream.  Jambai launched his
+javelin into the animal's chest, and then turned and fled.  The other
+natives also darted and scattered hither and thither, so that the
+elephant could not make up its mind on which of its enemies to wreak its
+vengeance.  We, too, turned and took to our heels at once with right
+good will.  All at once I heard Jack utter a wild shout or yell, very
+unlike to anything I ever heard from him before.  I looked back, and saw
+that his foot had got entangled in a thorny shrub, and that the elephant
+was making at him.
+
+To this day I have never been able to account for the remarkable
+condition of mind and body that ensued on this occasion.  Instead of
+being paralysed as I had been when Peterkin was in imminent danger, all
+sensation of fear or hesitancy seemed to vanish on thine instant.  I
+felt my nerves and muscles strung, as it were, and rendered firm as a
+rock, and with calm deliberation, yet with the utmost rapidity of which
+I was capable, I turned round, sprang between Jack and the enraged
+beast, and presented my piece at his head.
+
+"Right in the centre of his forehead," gasped Jack, as he endeavoured to
+wrench his foot from the entanglement.
+
+At that moment I observed Peterkin leap to my side; the next instant the
+report of both our guns rang through the woods; the elephant bounded
+completely over Jack, as Peterkin and I leaped to either side to let it
+pass, and fell to the ground with such violence that a tree about six
+inches thick, against which it struck, went down before it like a willow
+wand.
+
+We immediately assisted Jack to extricate himself; but we had no time to
+congratulate ourselves on our narrow escape, for mingled shouts and
+yells from the men in the bushes ahead apprised us that some new danger
+menaced them in that direction.
+
+Reloading as fast as we could, we hastened forward, and soon gained the
+new scene of battle.  Here stood the other elephant, trying to break
+down a small tree up which King Jambai had climbed, partly for safety
+and partly in order to dart a javelin down on the brute as it passed.
+
+This was a common custom of the natives; but the king, who was a bold,
+reckless man, had neglected to take the very necessary precaution of
+selecting a strong tree.  The elephant seemed actually to have observed
+this, for instead of passing on, it suddenly rushed headlong against the
+tree and began to break it down.  When we came up the beast was heaving
+and straining with all its might, the stout tree was cracking and
+rending fearfully, so that the king could scarcely retain his position
+on it.  The natives were plying their spears with the utmost vigour; but
+although mortally wounded, it was evident that in a few more seconds the
+elephant would succeed in throwing down the tree and trample the king to
+death.
+
+Peterkin instantly sprang forward, but Jack laid his hand on his
+shoulder.
+
+"It's my turn this time, lad," he cried, and leaping towards the
+monster, he placed the muzzle of his rifle close to its shoulder and
+sent a six-ounce ball right through its heart.
+
+The effect was instantaneous.  The elephant fell to the ground, a
+mountain of dead flesh.
+
+The delight of the negroes at this happy termination of the battle was
+excessive.  They leaped and laughed and danced like insane men, and we
+had much ado to prevent them seizing us in their arms and rubbing noses
+with us.
+
+As we had not commenced the hunt until well on in the day, evening was
+now closing in; so the king gave orders to encamp on a dry rising ground
+not far distant, where the jungle was less dense, and thither we all
+repaired, the natives bringing in all the game, and cutting up the
+elephants in a very short space of time.
+
+"Your shot was not such a bad one this time, Ralph," observed Peterkin,
+as we three stood looking at the large elephant which the natives were
+cutting up.  "There they are, just above the proboscis.  But let me warn
+you never again to venture on such a foolhardy thing as to fire in the
+face of a charging elephant unless you are a dead shot."
+
+"Thank you, Peterkin, for your advice, which, however, I will not take
+when a comrade's life may depend on my doing so."
+
+"I give you full credit for the excellence of your intention," rejoined
+my friend; "but if Jack's life had depended on those two shots from your
+double-barrel, he would have been but a dead man now.  There is only one
+vulnerable spot in the front of an elephant's head; that is, exactly in
+the centre of the forehead.  The spot is not bigger than a saucer, and
+the bone is comparatively thin there.  If you cannot make _sure_ of
+hitting that, you simply face certain death.  I would not have tried it
+on any account whatever, had I not seen that both you and Jack would
+have been killed had I not done so."
+
+On examination we found that the heavy ball from Peterkin's rifle had
+indeed penetrated the exact spot referred to, and had been the means of
+killing the elephant, while my two bullets were found embedded in the
+bone.
+
+The tusks of this animal were magnificent.  I do not know what their
+exact weight was, not having the means wherewith to weigh them.  They
+were probably worth a considerable sum of money in the British market.
+Of course we did not lay claim to any part of the spoil of that day,
+with the exception of a few of the beautiful birds shot on the voyage up
+the river, which were of no value to the natives, although priceless to
+me.  Alas! when I came to examine them next morning, I found that those
+destructive creatures the white ants had totally destroyed the greater
+part of them, and the few that were worth stuffing were very much
+damaged.
+
+Experience is a good though sometimes a severe teacher.  Never again did
+I, after that, put off the stuffing of any valuable creature till the
+next day.  I always stuffed it in the evening of the day on which it was
+killed; and thus, although the practice cost me many a sleepless night,
+I preserved, and ultimately brought home, many specimens of rare and
+beautiful birds and beasts, which would otherwise have been destroyed by
+those rapacious insects.
+
+That night the scene of our camp was indescribably romantic and wild.
+Numerous huge fires were lighted, and round these the negroes circled
+and cooked elephant and venison steaks, while they talked over the
+events of the day or recounted the adventures of former hunts with noisy
+volubility and gesticulation.
+
+The negro has a particular love for a fire.  The nights in his warm
+climate are chill to him, though not so to Europeans, and he luxuriates
+in the heat of a fire as a cat does in the rays of the sun.  The warm
+blaze seems to draw out his whole soul, and causes his eyes to sparkle
+with delight.  A good supper and a warm fire render him almost perfectly
+happy.  There is but one thing wanting to render him supremely so, and
+that is--a pipe!  No doubt, under similar circumstances, the white man
+also is in a state of enviable felicity, but he does not show his joy
+like the negro, who seems to forget his cares and sorrows, the miseries
+which his gross superstitions entail on him, the frequency with which he
+is exposed to sudden destruction; everything, in short, is forgotten
+save the present, and he enjoys himself with unmitigated fervour.
+
+It really did my heart good as I sat with my comrades beside our fire
+and looked around me on their happy faces, which were rendered still
+happier by the gift from us of a small quantity of tobacco, with which
+we had taken care to provide ourselves for this very purpose.
+
+I could scarcely believe that the jovial, kindly, hearty fellows were
+the very men who are well-known to be such cruel, bloodthirsty fiends
+when under the influence of their dreadful superstitions, and who, but a
+few hours before, had been darting through the woods besmeared with
+blood and yelling like maniacs or demons.  In fact, the whole scene
+before me, and the day's proceedings, seemed to me, at that time, like a
+vivid dream instead of a reality.  Moreover, after I lay down, the
+reality became a dream, and I spent that night, as I had spent the day,
+shooting gazelles, lions, wild pigs, and elephants in imagination.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+DREAMING AND FEEDING AND BLOODY WORK ENLARGED UPON.
+
+The first object of which my senses became cognisant on awaking next
+morning was my friend Peterkin, who had evidently awakened just a moment
+or two before me, for he was in the act of yawning and rubbing his eyes.
+
+I have all my life been a student of character, and the most interesting
+yet inexplicable character which I have ever studied has been that of my
+friend Peterkin, whose eccentricities I have never been able fully to
+understand or account for.  I have observed that, on first awaking in
+the mornings, he has been wont to exhibit several of his most eccentric
+and peculiar traits, so I resolved to feign myself asleep and watch him.
+
+"Heigh-ho!" he exclaimed, after the yawn I have just referred to.
+Having said this, he stretched out both arms to the utmost above his
+head, and then flung himself back at full length on his couch, where he
+lay still for about half a minute.  Then he started up suddenly into a
+sitting posture and looked slowly from one to another of the recumbent
+forms around him.  Satisfied, apparently, that they were asleep, he gave
+vent to a long yawn which terminated in a gasp, and then he looked up
+contemplatively at the sky, which was at that hour beginning to warm
+with the red rays of the rising sun.  While thus engaged, he caressed
+with his right hand the very small scrap of whisker that grew on his
+right cheek.  At first it seemed as if this were an unconscious action,
+but he suddenly appeared to become absorbed in it, and stared straight
+before him as one does when only half awake, mumbling the while in an
+undertone.  I could not make out distinctly what he said, but I think I
+caught the words, "Yes, a little--a _very_ little thicker--six new
+hairs, I think--umph! slow, very slow."  Here he looked at Jack's bushy
+beard and sighed.
+
+Suddenly he thrust both hands deep into his breeches pockets and stared
+at the black embers of the extinct fire; then as suddenly he pulled out
+his hands, and placing the forefinger of his right hand on the end of
+the thumb of his left, said slowly--
+
+"Let me see--I'll recall it."
+
+He spoke with intense gravity.  Most persons do when talking to
+themselves.
+
+"Yes, I remember now.  There were two elephants and four--or three, was
+it?--no, it must have been four lions.  The biggest elephant had on a
+false front of fair curls and a marriage-ring on its tail.  Stay; was it
+not the other one had that?  No, it was the biggest.  I remember now,
+for it was just above the marriage-ring I grasped it when I pulled its
+tail out.  I didn't pull it off, for it wouldn't come off; it came out
+like a telescope or a long piece of indiarubber.  Ha! and I remember
+thinking how painful it must be.  That was odd, now, to think of that.
+The other elephant had on crinoline.  That was odder still; for of all
+animals in the world it least required it.  Well, let me see.  What did
+I do?  Oh yes, I shot them both.  Of course, that was natural; but it
+wasn't quite so natural that the big one should vomit up a live lion,
+which attacked me with incredible fury.  But I killed it cleverly.  Yes,
+it _was_ a clever thing, undoubtedly, to split a lion in two, from the
+tip of its nose to the extremity of its tail, with one stroke of a
+penknife--"
+
+At this climax I could contain myself no longer, and burst into a loud
+laugh as I perceived that Peterkin had spent the night, as I myself had
+done, in hunting--though, I confess, there was a considerable difference
+in the nature of our achievements, and in the manner of their
+accomplishment.
+
+"Why, what are you laughing at?" said Jack, sitting up and gazing at me
+with a stupid stare.
+
+"At Peterkin's dreams," said I.
+
+"Ah!" said Jack, with a smiling yawn, "that's it, is it?  Been hunting
+elephants and lions, eh?"
+
+"Why, how did you guess that?"  I asked, in surprise; "were you not
+asleep just now?"
+
+"Of course I was, and dreaming too, like yourself, I make no doubt.  I
+had just bagged my fifteenth elephant and my tenth lion when your laugh
+awoke me.  And the best of it is that I was carrying the whole bagful on
+my back at once, and did not feel much oppressed by the weight."
+
+"That beats my dream hollow," observed Peterkin; "so its my opinion we'd
+better have breakfast.--Makarooroo, hy! d'ye hear? rouse up, you junk of
+ebony."
+
+"Yis, massa, comin'," said our guide, rising slowly from his lair on the
+opposite side of our fireplace.
+
+"D'you hear?"
+
+"Yis, massa."
+
+"You're a nigger!"
+
+"Dat am a fact."
+
+"Well, being a nigger you're a brick, so look sharp with that splendid
+breakfast you promised us last night.  I'll wager a million pounds that
+you had forgotten all about it."
+
+"No, massa, me no forgit.  Me up in centre ob de night and put 'im in de
+hole.  Wat you call 'im--oben?"
+
+"Ay, oven, that's it."
+
+"Yis.  Well, me git 'im d'rec'ly."
+
+"And, I say, hold on," added Peterkin.  "Don't you suppose I'm going to
+stand on ceremony with you.  Your name's too long by half.  Too many
+rooroos about it, so I'm going to call you Mak in future, d'ye
+understand?"
+
+The negro nodded and grinned from ear to ear as he left us.  Presently
+he returned with a huge round, or lump of meat, at which we looked
+inquisitively.  The odour from it was delightful, and the tender, juicy
+appearance of the meat when Makarooroo, who carved it for us, cut the
+first slice, was quite appetising to behold.
+
+"What is it?" inquired Peterkin.
+
+"Elephant's foot," replied the guide.
+
+"Gammon," remarked Peterkin.
+
+"It's true, massa.  Don't you see him's toe?"
+
+"So it is," said Jack.
+
+"And it's first-rate," cried I, tasting a morsel.
+
+With that we fell to and made a hearty meal, after which we, along with
+the king and all his people, retraced our steps to the river and
+returned to the native town, where we spent another day in making
+preparations to continue our journey towards the land of the gorilla.
+
+During the hunt which I have just described I was very much amused as
+well as amazed at the reckless manner in which the negroes loaded their
+rusty old trade-guns.  They put in a whole handful of powder each time,
+and above that as much shot and bits of old iron of all kinds as they
+dared; some I saw charged thus to within a few inches of the muzzle, and
+the owners seemed actually afraid to put them to their shoulders, as
+well they might be, for the recoil was tremendous, and had the powder
+been good their guns must have been blown to pieces and themselves
+killed.
+
+On our return to the village we found the people on the eve of one of
+those terrible outbursts of superstitious passion which rarely if ever
+pass away without some wretched human creature perishing under the hands
+of murderers.
+
+"There is something wrong with the fetishman, I think," remarked Jack,
+as we disembarked at the landing.  "He seems excited.  Do you know what
+it can be at, Makarooroo?"
+
+"Jack," interposed Peterkin, "I have changed his name to Mak, so you and
+Ralph will please to remember that.--Mak, my boy, what's wrong with your
+doctor?"
+
+The negro looked very grave and shook his head as he replied, "Don'
+know, massa.  Him's be goin' to rizz de peepil wid him norrible doin's.
+Dere will be death in the camp mos' bery quick--p'raps dis night."
+
+"That is terrible," said I.  "Are you sure of what you say?"
+
+"Sartin sure," replied the negro, with another shake of the head.
+
+"Then, Mak," said Jack, "it behoves us to look to ourselves.  You look
+like an honest fellow, and I believe we may trust you.  We cannot expect
+you to help us to fight against your own kith and kin, but I do expect
+that you will assist us to escape if any foul play is intended.
+Whatever betides, it is as well that you should know that white men are
+not easily conquered.  Our guns are good--they never miss fire.  We will
+sell our lives dearly, you may depend on it."
+
+"Ay," added Peterkin, "it is well that you should know that; moreover,
+it is well that the rascally niggers of your tribe should know it too;
+so you can take occasion to give them a hint that we shall keep
+ourselves prepared for them, with my compliments."
+
+"De mans ob my peepil," replied the negro, with some dignity of manner,
+"be not wuss dan oder mans.  But dem is bad enuff.  But you no hab need
+for be fraid.  Dey no touch de white mans.  Dem bery much glad you com'
+here.  If any bodies be killed it be black mans or 'oomans."
+
+We felt somewhat relieved on hearing this, for, to say truth, we knew
+well enough that three men, no matter how well-armed or resolute they
+might be, could not hope to defend themselves against a whole tribe of
+savages in their own country.  Nevertheless we resolved to keep a sharp
+lookout, and be prepared for the worst.  Meanwhile we did all in our
+power to expedite our departure.
+
+That evening the trader started on his return journey to the coast,
+leaving us in charge of King Jambai, who promised earnestly to take good
+care of us.  We immediately put his willingness to fulfil his promise to
+the test by begging him to furnish us with men to carry our goods into
+the interior.  He tried very hard to induce us to change our minds and
+remain hunting with his tribe, telling us that the gorilla country was
+far far away from his lands; that we should never reach it alive, or
+that if we did we should certainly be killed by the natives, who,
+besides being cruel and warlike, were cannibals; and that if we did meet
+in with gorillas we should all be certainly slain, for no one could
+combat successfully with that ferocious giant of the monkey tribe.
+
+To this we replied that we were quite aware of the dangers we should
+have to encounter in our travels, but added that we had come there for
+the very purpose of encountering such dangers, and especially to pay a
+visit to the giant monkeys in their native land, so that it was in vain
+his attempting to dissuade us, as we were resolved to go.
+
+Seeing that we were immovable, the king eventually gave in, and ordered
+some of his best men to hold themselves in readiness to start with us on
+the following morning.  We then proceeded to his majesty's house, where
+we had supper, and afterwards retired to our own hut to rest.
+
+But we were destined to have little or no rest that night.  The doctor
+or fetishman of the tribe had stirred up the passions of the people in a
+manner that was quite incomprehensible to us.  King Jambai, it seems,
+had been for some weeks suffering from illness--possibly from
+indigestion, for he was fond of gorging himself--and the medicine-man
+had stated that his majesty was bewitched by some of the members of his
+own tribe, and that unless these sorcerers were slain there was no
+possibility of his getting well.
+
+We never could ascertain why the fetishman should fix upon certain
+persons to be slain, unless it was that he had a personal enmity against
+them; but this seemed unlikely, for two of the persons selected were old
+female slaves, who could never, of course, have injured the doctor in
+any way.  But the doings of Africans, especially in regard to religious
+superstitions, I afterwards found were so mysterious that no one could
+or would explain the meaning of them to us.  And I am inclined to
+believe that in reference to the meaning of many things they were
+themselves utterly ignorant.
+
+Towards midnight the people had wrought themselves up to a frenzied
+condition, and made so much noise that we could not sleep.  In the midst
+of the uproar Makarooroo, who we observed had been very restless all the
+evening, rushed into our hut, exclaiming, "Massa! massa! come, save my
+Okandaga! come quick!"
+
+The poor fellow was trembling with anxiety, and was actually pale in the
+face; for a distinctly discernible pallor overspreads the countenance of
+the negro when under the influence of excessive terror.
+
+Okandaga we had previously heard of and seen.  She was, according to
+African notions, an exceedingly pretty young girl, with whom our worthy
+guide had fallen desperately in love.  Makarooroo's education had done
+much for him, and especially in regard to females.  Having observed the
+kind, respectful consideration with which the missionaries treated their
+wives, and the happiness that seemed to be the result of that course of
+conduct, he resolved in his own mind to try the experiment with one of
+the girls of his own tribe, and soon after rejoining it paid his
+attentions to Okandaga, who seemed to him the most modest and lovable
+girl in the village.
+
+Poor Okandaga was first amazed and then terrified at the strangely
+gentle conduct of her lover, and thought that he meant to bewitch her;
+for having never before been accustomed to other than harsh and
+contemptuous treatment from men, she could not believe that Makarooroo
+meant her any good.  Gradually, however, she began to like this
+respectful wooer, and finally she agreed to elope with him to the
+sea-coast and live near the missionaries.  It was necessary, however, to
+arrange their plans with great caution.  There was no difficulty in
+their getting married.  A handsome present to the girl's father was all
+that was necessary to effect that end, and a good hunter like Makarooroo
+knew he could speedily obtain possession of his bride, but to get her
+removed from her tribe and carried to the coast was quite a different
+affair.  While the perplexed negro was pondering this subject and
+racking his brains to discover a way of getting over the difficulty, our
+arrival at the village occurred.  At once he jumped to the conclusion
+that somehow or other he should accomplish his object through our
+assistance; and holding this in view, he the more willingly agreed to
+accompany us to the gorilla country, intending first to make our
+acquaintance, and afterwards to turn us to account in furthering his
+plans.  All this we learned long afterwards.  At the period of which I
+am now writing, we were profoundly ignorant of everything save the fact
+that Okandaga was his affianced bride, and that the poor fellow was now
+almost beside himself with horror because the fetishman had condemned
+her, among others, to drink the poisoned cup.
+
+This drinking of the poisoned cup is an ordeal through which the unhappy
+victims to whom suspicion has been attached are compelled to pass.  Each
+one drinks the poison, and several executioners stand by, with heavy
+knives, to watch the result.  If the poison acts so as to cause the
+supposed criminal to fall down, he is hacked in pieces instantly; but
+if, through unusual strength or peculiarity of constitution, he is
+enabled to resist the effects of the poison, his life is spared, and he
+is declared innocent.
+
+Jack and Peterkin and I seized our weapons, and hurrying out, followed
+our guide to the spot where this terrible tragedy was enacting.
+
+"Don't fear, Mak," said Peterkin, as we ran along; "we'll save her
+somehow.  I'm certain of that."
+
+The negro made no reply, but I observed a more hopeful expression on his
+countenance after the remark.  He evidently had immense faith in
+Peterkin; which I must say was more than I had, for when I considered
+our small numbers, my hope of influencing savages was very slight.
+
+The scene that met our eyes was indescribably horrible.  In the centre
+of a dense circle of negroes, who had wrought themselves up to a pitch
+of ferocity that caused them to look more like wild beasts than men,
+stood the king, and beside him the doctor or fetishman.  This latter was
+ornamented with a towering headdress of feathers.  His face was painted
+white, which had the effect of imparting to him an infinitely more
+hideous and ghastly aspect than is produced in the white man when he is
+painted black.  A stripe of red passed round his head, and another down
+his forehead and nose.  His naked body was decked with sundry fantastic
+ornaments, and altogether he looked more like a fiend than I had
+believed it possible for man to appear.
+
+The ground all round him was saturated with blood and strewn with arms,
+fingers, cleft skulls, and masses of flesh that had been hewn from the
+victims who had already fallen, one of whom, we afterwards learned, had
+belonged to the royal family.  Two still remained--a young female and an
+old man.  The emaciated frame and white woolly head of the latter showed
+that in the course of nature his earthly career must soon terminate.  It
+is probable that the poor old man had become a burden to his relations,
+and the doctor took this opportunity of ridding the tribe of him.  The
+girl was Okandaga, who stood weeping and trembling as she gazed upon the
+butchery that had already taken place.
+
+The old man had swallowed the poison shortly before we arrived, and he
+was now struggling to maintain an erect position.  But he failed, his
+quivering limbs sank beneath him, and before we could interfere the
+bloody executioners had cut off his head, and then, in a transport of
+passion, they literally hacked his body to pieces.
+
+We rushed hastily forward to the king, and Jack, in an earnest voice,
+implored him to spare the last victim.
+
+"Surely," said he, "enough have been sacrificed already.--Tell him,
+Makarooroo, that I will quit his village and never see him more if he
+does not spare the life of that young girl."
+
+The king appeared much perplexed by this unlooked-for interference on
+our part.
+
+"I cannot check the spirits of my people now," he replied.  "They are
+roused.  The girl has bewitched me and many others.  She must die.  It
+is our custom.  Let not my white men be offended.  Let them go to their
+hut and sleep."
+
+"We cannot sleep while injustice is done in the village," answered Jack,
+in a lofty tone.  "Let not King Jambai do that which will make his
+visitors ashamed of him.  Let the girl live till to-morrow at midnight.
+Let the case be investigated, and if she be proved guilty then let her
+die."
+
+The king commenced a long reply in the same dignified manner and tone
+which Jack had assumed.  While he was thus engaged Peterkin touched our
+guide on the shoulder and whispered--
+
+"I say, Mak, tell the doctor to back up Jack's request, and I'll give
+him a gun."
+
+The negro slipped at once to the side of the doctor, who had begun to
+frown fiercely on Jack, and whispered a few words in his ear.  Instantly
+his face assumed a calmer aspect, and presently he stepped up to the
+king, and a whispering conversation ensued, in which the doctor,
+carefully refraining from making any mention of the gun, commended the
+wise advice of the white man, and suggested that the proposal should be
+agreed to, adding, however, that he knew for certain that the girl was a
+witch, but that the investigation would do good in the way of proving
+that he, the doctor, was correct, and thus the girl should perish on the
+following night, and the white men would be satisfied.
+
+Having announced this to the multitude, the king ordered Okandaga to be
+conducted back to her prison and carefully guarded; and we returned to
+our hut--not, however, to sleep, but to consult as to what was to be
+done next.
+
+"I knew that you wanted a respite for her," said Peterkin, as we sat
+round our fire, "that you might have time to consider how to act, and I
+backed up your request accordingly, as you know.  But now, I confess,
+I'm very much at a loss what to suggest.  It seems to me we have only
+purchased a brief delay."
+
+"True," answered Jack.  "The delay is not so brief, however, but that we
+may plan some method of getting the poor girl out of this scrape.--What
+say you, Mak?"
+
+"If _you_ no can tink 'pon someting, I gib up all hope," replied our
+guide sorrowfully.
+
+"Come, Mak, cheer up," cried Peterkin.  "If the worst comes to the
+worst, you can, at any rate, fight for your bride."
+
+"Fight!" exclaimed the negro, displaying his white teeth like a mastiff,
+rolling his eyes and clinching his fists convulsively.  Then in a calmer
+tone he continued, "Ay, me can fight.  Me could kill all de guards an'
+take Okandaga by de hand, an' run troo de bushes for eber.  But guards
+no die widout hollerin' an' yellerin' like de gorilla; an' nigger mans
+can run fasterer dan womans.  No, no, dat am dumpossobable."
+
+"Nothing's `dumpossobable' to brave hearts and stout arms," replied
+Jack.  "There are only four guards put over her, I believe.  Well, there
+are just four of us--not that we require to be equal, by any means.
+Peterkin and I could settle them easily; but we require to be equal in
+numbers, in order to do it quietly.  I have a plan in my head, but
+there's one hitch in it that I cannot unravel."
+
+"And what may that be?"  If asked.
+
+"Why, I don't see how, after getting clear off with Okandaga, we are to
+avoid being pursued on suspicion and captured."
+
+"Dere is one cave," remarked the guide, "not far off to here.  P'raps we
+be safe if we git into 'im.  But I 'fraid it not do, cause him be
+peepiled by fiends an' dead man's spirits."
+
+"That's a grave objection," said Peterkin, laughing.
+
+"Yes, an' de tribe neber go near dere; dey is most drefful terrorfied to
+be cotched dere."
+
+"Then, that will just do," cried Jack, with animation.  "The very thing.
+And now I'll tell you what my plan is.  To-morrow morning early we will
+tell the king that we wish to be off at once--that we have put off too
+much time already, and wish to make no further delay.  Then we'll pack
+up and start.  At night we will encamp in a quiet, out-of-the-way part
+of the woods, and slip back to the village in the dark a short time
+before midnight.  The whole village will at that time be assembled,
+probably, at the spot where the execution is to take place; so we can
+rush in, overpower the guard, free Okandaga, and make our escape to the
+cave, where they will never think of looking for us."
+
+Peterkin shook his head.  "There are two difficulties in your plan,
+Jack.  First, what if the natives are _not_ assembled on the place of
+execution, and we find it impossible to make our entrance into or exit
+from the village quietly?"
+
+"I propose," replied Jack, "that we shall undress ourselves, rub
+ourselves entirely over with charcoal and grease, so that they shall not
+recognise us, and dash in and carry the girl off by a _coup de main_.
+In which case it will, of course, be neck or nothing, and a tremendous
+race to the cave, where, if they follow us, we will keep them at bay
+with our rifles."
+
+"Umph! dashing, no doubt, but risky," said Peterkin--"extremely risky.
+Yet it's worth trying.  Well, my second difficulty is--what if they
+don't stick to their promise after we quit, and kill the poor thing
+before midnight?"
+
+"We must take our chance of that.  But I shall put the king on his
+honour before leaving, and say that I will make particular inquiry into
+the way in which the trial has been conducted on my return."
+
+"Put the king on his honour!" observed Peterkin.  "I'm afraid that
+you'll put his majesty on an extremely unstable foundation.  However, I
+see nothing better that can be done."
+
+"Have you any more difficulties?"
+
+"Yes," said I.  "There is one other.  What do you propose to do with the
+men who are to be supplied us by the king during these extremely
+delicate and difficult manoeuvres?"
+
+The countenances of my comrades fell at this question.
+
+"I never thought of them," said Jack.
+
+"Nor I," said Peterkin.
+
+Makarooroo groaned.
+
+"Well," said I, "if you will allow me to suggest, I would recommend that
+we should, towards the close of the day, send them on ahead of us, and
+bid them encamp at a certain place, saying that we shall spend the night
+in hunting, and return to them in the morning."
+
+"The very thing," said Jack.  "Now, comrades, to rest.  I will occupy
+myself until I fall asleep in maturing my plans and thinking out the
+details.  Do you the same, and if anything should occur to you let us
+consult over it in the morning."
+
+We were all glad to agree to this, being wearied more perhaps by
+excitement than want of rest; so bidding each other good-night, we lay
+down side by side to meditate, and for my part to dream of the difficult
+and dangerous work that awaited us on the morrow.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+WE CIRCUMVENT THE NATIVES.
+
+We arose on the following morning with the dawn of day, and began to
+make preparation for our departure.
+
+To our satisfaction we found the king quite willing that we should go;
+so embarking our goods in one of the native canoes, we ordered our
+negroes to embark, and commenced our journey amid the firing of guns and
+the good wishes of the natives.  I must confess that I felt some
+probings of conscience at the thought of the double part we were
+compelled to play; but the recollection of the horrid fate that awaited
+the poor negro girl put to flight such feelings, and induced a longing
+for the time of action to arrive.
+
+I have more than once referred to our goods.  Perhaps it may be as well
+to explain that, when we first landed on the African coast, we made
+inquiries of those who were best acquainted with the nature and
+requirements of the country we were about to explore, as to what goods
+we ought to purchase of the traders, in order to be in a position to pay
+our way as we went along; for we could not, of course, expect the
+savages to feed us and lodge us and help us on our way for nothing.
+After mature consideration, we provided ourselves with a supply of such
+things as were most necessary and suitable--such as tobacco, powder, and
+shot, and ball, a few trade-guns, several pieces of brightly-coloured
+cloth, packages of beads (some white enamelled, others of coloured
+glass), coffee and tea, knives, scissors, rings, and a variety of other
+knick-knacks.  These, with a little brandy to be used medicinally, our
+blankets and camp cooking utensils, formed a heavy load for ten men;
+but, of course, as we advanced, the load was lightened by the
+consumption of our provisions and the giving away of goods.  The
+additions which I made, however, in the shape of stuffed specimens,
+began in the course of time to more than counterbalance this advantage.
+
+Being resolved to impress the natives with a respect for our physical
+powers, we made a point of each carrying a pretty heavy load on our
+journeys--excepting, of course, when we went out a-hunting.  But to
+return.
+
+Our crew worked willingly and well, so that ere night closed in upon us
+we were a considerable distance away from the village.  As the sun set
+we landed, and ordering our men to advance in the canoe to a certain
+bend in the river, and there encamp and await our return, we landed and
+went off into the woods as if to search for game.
+
+"Now, Makarooroo, quick march, and don't draw rein till we reach the
+cave," said Jack when we were out of sight of the canoe.
+
+Our guide obeyed in silence, and for the next two hours we travelled
+through the woods at a sort of half trot that must have carried us over
+the ground at the rate of five miles in hour.  The pace was indeed
+tremendous, and I now reaped the benefit of those long pedestrian
+excursions which for years past I had been taking, with scientific ends
+in view, over the fields and hills of my native land.  Jack and Peterkin
+seemed both to be made of iron, and incapable of suffering from fatigue.
+But I have no doubt that the exciting and hazardous nature of the
+expedition on which we had embarked had much to do with our powers of
+endurance.
+
+After running and doubling, gliding and leaping through the dense woods,
+as I have said, for two hours, we arrived at a broken, rocky piece of
+ground, over which we passed, and eventually came upon a thick jungle
+that concealed a vast cliff almost entirely from view.  The cracking of
+the bushes as we approached showed that we had disturbed the slumbers of
+more than one of the wild beasts that inhabited the spot.  Here
+Makarooroo paused, and although it was intensely dark I could observe
+that he was trembling violently.
+
+"Come, Mak," said I in a whisper, "surely you, who have received a
+Christian education, do not really believe that devils inhabit this
+spot?"
+
+"Me don know, massa.  Eber since me was be a pikaniny me 'fraid--
+horrobably 'fraid ob dat cave."
+
+"Come, come," said Jack impatiently; "we have no time for fears of any
+kind this night.  Think of Okandaga, Mak, and be a man."
+
+This was sufficient.  The guide pushed boldly forward, and led us to the
+mouth of a large cavern, at which he halted and pointed to the gloomy
+interior.
+
+"You have the matches, Peterkin; quick, strike a light.  It is getting
+late," said Jack.
+
+In another moment a light was struck, and with it we kindled three
+goodly-sized torches with which we had provided ourselves.  Holding
+these high over our heads, we entered the cavern--Jack first, Peterkin
+second, I next, and the terrified negro in rear.
+
+We had scarcely entered, and were peering upwards at the black vault
+overhead, when an indescribable rushing sound filled the air of the
+cavern, and caused the flame of our torches to flicker with such
+violence that we could not see any object distinctly.  We all came to a
+sudden pause, and I confess that at that moment a feeling of
+superstitious dread chilled the blood in my veins.  Before we could
+discover the cause of this strange effect, several large black objects
+passed through the air near our heads with a peculiar muffled noise.
+Next instant the three torches were extinguished.
+
+Unable to command himself any longer, the negro uttered a cry of terror
+and turned to fly; but Jack, whose wits seemed always prepared for any
+emergency, had foreseen the probability of this, and springing quickly
+after him, threw his arms round his neck and effectually prevented his
+running away.
+
+The noise caused by the scuffle seemed to arouse the fury of all the
+evil spirits of the place, for a perfect hurricane of whirring sounds
+raged around us for a few seconds.
+
+"It's only bats," cried Jack.--"Look alive, Peterkin; another light."
+
+In a few seconds the torches were rekindled, and we advanced into the
+cavern; and Mak, after recovering from his fright and learning the cause
+thereof, became much bolder.  The cave was about a hundred yards deep by
+about fifty wide; but we could not ascertain its height, for the light
+of our torches failed to penetrate the deep gloom overhead.  It was
+divided into two natural chambers, the outer being large, the inner
+small--a mere recess, in fact.  In this latter we planted our torches,
+and proceeded with our hasty preparations.  Peterkin was ready first.
+We endeavoured to make ourselves as like to the natives in all respects
+as possible; and when I looked at my companions, I was obliged to
+confess that, except in the full blaze of the torch-light, I could not
+discern any point of difference between them and our guide.
+
+"Now then, Jack," said Peterkin, "as you're not quite ready and I am, I
+shall employ myself in preparing a little plan of my own which I intend
+to put in force if the savages dare to venture into the cavern after
+us."
+
+"Very good; but see that you finish it in less than five minutes, for
+I'll be ready in that time."
+
+Peterkin immediately poured out a large quantity of powder on a flat
+rock, and mingling with it a little water from a pool near by, converted
+it into a semi-moist ball.  This he divided into three parts, and
+forming each part into the shape of a tall cone, laid the whole
+carefully aside.
+
+"There!" said he, "lie you there until you are wanted."
+
+At this moment, while Jack and I were bending down fastening the latchet
+of our shoes, our ears were saluted with one of the most appalling yells
+I ever listened to.  Makarooroo fell flat to the earth in his fright,
+and my own heart chilled with horror, while Jack sprang up and
+instinctively grasped the handle of his hunting-knife.
+
+"Very good," said Peterkin, as he stood laughing at us quietly, and we
+immediately perceived that it was he who uttered the cry.
+
+"Why, what mean you?" said Jack, almost angrily.  "Surely this is no
+time for foolish jesting."
+
+"I am anything but jesting, Jack.  I'm only rehearsing another part of
+my plan."
+
+"But you ought to give us warning when you are about to do such
+startling things," said I remonstratively.
+
+"Nay, that would not have done at all, because then I should not have
+known what effect my cry is likely to produce on unexpectant ears."
+
+"Well, now, are you all ready?" inquired Jack.  "Then let us go."
+
+Issuing forth armed only with our double-barrelled guns and heavy
+hunting-knives, we hastened towards the native village.  When within a
+hundred yards of the edge of the wood that skirted it we stopped to pull
+off our shoes, for it was necessary that we should have nothing about
+our persons to tell who we were should any one chance to see us as we
+ran.  We also left our rifles beside the shoes at a spot where we could
+find them in an instant in passing, and then slowly approached the
+outskirts of the village.
+
+Presently we heard the hum of distant voices shouting, and the fear that
+the scene of bloodshed had already begun induced us to quicken our pace
+to a smart run.  I never saw a man so deeply affected as was our poor
+guide, and when I looked at him I felt extremely anxious lest his state
+of mind should unfit him for acting with needful caution.
+
+We gained the first cottages--they were empty.  The village having been
+recently built, no stockade had yet been thrown round it, so our
+progress was unimpeded.
+
+"We must be very cautious now," observed Jack in a whisper.--"Restrain
+yourself, Makarooroo; Okandaga's life depends on our coolness."
+
+On reaching the back of the next hut, which was also empty.  Jack
+motioned to us to halt, and coming close to us looked earnestly in each
+of our faces without saying a word.  I supposed that, like a wise
+general, he was reviewing his troops--seeing whether the men he was
+about to lead into battle were fit for their work.
+
+"Now," said he rapidly, "it's evident from the shouting that's going on
+that they won't waste much time with their palaver.  The hut in which
+she is confined is not fifty yards off; I took care to ascertain its
+position before leaving this morning.  What we have to do is simple.
+Spring on the guards and knock them down with our fists or the hilts of
+our hunting-knives, or with bits of stick, as suits us best.  But
+_mind_"--here he looked pointedly at our guide--"no shedding of blood if
+it can be avoided.  These men are not our enemies.  Follow me in single
+file; when I halt, come up into line; let each single out the man
+nearest to him, and when I hold up my hand spring like wild-cats.  If
+there happen to be five or six guards instead of four, leave the
+additional ones to me."  We merely nodded assent, and in another minute
+were close upon the prison.  Peterkin, Mak, and I had provided us with
+short heavy bludgeons on our way.  These we held in our right hands; our
+left hands we kept free either to grasp our opponents with, or to draw
+our knives if necessary.  Jack carried his long knife--it might almost
+have been termed a short sword--in his left hand, and from the manner in
+which he clinched his right I saw that he meant to make use of it as his
+principal weapon.
+
+On gaining the back of the house we heard voices within, but could see
+nothing, so we moved softly round to the front, keeping, however, well
+behind the screen of bushes.  Here Jack halted, and we ranged up
+alongside of him and peeped through the bushes.  The hut was quite open
+in front and the interior was brightly lighted by a strong fire, round
+which the four guards--stout fellows all of them--were seated with their
+spears beside them on the ground.  They were conversing in an excited
+tone, and taking no notice of Okandaga, who sat behind them, partially
+in the shade, with her face buried in her hands.  She was not tied in
+any way, as the guards knew well enough that she could not hope to
+escape them by mere running way.
+
+One rapid glance showed us all this, and enabled us to select our men.
+Then Jack gave the signal, and without an instant's hesitation we darted
+upon them.  I know not in what manner my comrades acted their part.
+From the moment I set eyes on the negro nearest to me, my blood began to
+boil.  Somehow or other I saw Jack give the signal without taking my
+eyes off my intended victim, then I sprang forward, and he had barely
+time to look up in alarm when I struck him with all my force on the
+right temple.  He fell without a groan.  I looked round instantly, and
+there lay the other three, with my companions standing over them.  Our
+plan had been so well concerted and so promptly executed that the four
+men fell almost at the same instant, and without a cry.
+
+Poor Okandaga leaped up and uttered a faint scream of alarm, but
+Makarooroo's voice instantly reassured her, and with an exclamation of
+joy she sprang into his arms.  There was no time for delay.  While the
+scene I have described was being enacted the shouts in the centre of the
+village had been increasing, and we guessed that in a few minutes more
+the bloodthirsty executioners would come for their helpless victim.  We
+therefore left the hut at once, and ran as fast as we could towards the
+place where our guns and shoes had been left.  Our guide seized Okandaga
+by the wrist and dragged her along; but indeed she was so nimble that at
+first she required no assistance.  In a short time, however, we were
+obliged to slacken our pace in order to enable her to keep up.  We
+reached the guns in safety; but while we were in the act of lifting them
+a burst of wild cries, that grew louder and fiercer as they approached,
+told that the natives were rushing tumultuously towards the prison.
+
+"Now, lads," said Jack, "we must put on full speed.--Mak, take her right
+hand.--Here, Okandaga, your left."
+
+At that instant there was a shout in the village, so loud that we knew
+the escape was discovered.  An indescribable hubbub ensued, but we soon
+lost it in the crackling of the underwood as we burst through it in our
+headlong flight towards the cave.  The poor girl, feeling that her life
+depended on it, exerted herself to the utmost, and with the aid of Jack
+and her lover kept well up.
+
+"She'll never hold out to the end," said Peterkin, glancing over his
+shoulder as he ran.
+
+The cries of the savages filled the woods in all directions, showing
+that they had instantly scattered themselves in the pursuit, in order to
+increase their chances of intercepting us.  We had already traversed the
+greater part of the wood that lay between the village and the haunted
+cavern, when two negroes, who must have taken a shorter route, descried
+us.  They instantly uttered a yell of triumph and followed us at full
+speed, while from the cries closing in upon us we could tell that the
+others had heard and understood the shout.  Just then Okandaga's
+strength began to fail, and her extreme terror, as the pursuers gained
+on us, tended still further to increase her weakness.  This was all the
+more unfortunate that we were now almost within a couple of hundred
+yards of the mouth of the cave.
+
+Makarooroo spoke encouragingly to her, but she was unable to reply, and
+it became evident that she was about to sink down altogether.  Jack
+glanced over his shoulder.  The two negroes were within fifty yards of
+us, but no others were in sight.
+
+"Hold my gun," said Jack to me sharply.
+
+I seized it.  He instantly stooped down, grasped Okandaga round the
+waist, and without stopping, swung her, with an exertion of strength
+that seemed to me incredible, into his arms.  We gained the mouth of the
+cavern; Jack dropped Okandaga, who immediately ran in, while the rest of
+us stopped abruptly and faced about.
+
+"Back, all of you," cried Jack, "else they will be afraid to come on."
+
+The words had scarcely passed his lips when the two negroes came up, but
+halted a few yards from the mouth of the cave on seeing such a giant
+form guarding the entrance.
+
+To let those men escape and reveal the place of our concealment was not
+to be thought of.  Jack darted out upon them.  They separated from each
+other as they turned to fly.  I was peeping out of the cave, and saw
+that Jack could not secure them both; I therefore darted out, and
+quickly overtaking one, seized him by the hair of the head and dragged
+him into the cave with the aid of Peterkin.  Jack lifted the other
+savage completely from the ground, and carried him in struggling in his
+gripe like a child in its nurse's arms.
+
+This last episode was enacted so quickly that the two negroes were
+carried into the cavern and gagged before the other pursuers came up.
+At the cave's mouth the whole of the men of the village shortly
+assembled with the king at their head.  Thus far the excitement of the
+chase had led them; but now that the first burst of their rage was over,
+and they found themselves on the threshold of that haunted cavern, the
+fear of which had been an element in their training from infancy, they
+felt, no doubt, overawed by superstitious dread, and hesitated to enter,
+although most of them must have been convinced that the fugitives were
+there.  Their fears increased as their anger abated, and they crowded
+round King Jambai, who seemed loath to take upon himself the honour of
+leader.
+
+"They must have sought shelter here," said the king, pointing to the
+cavern and looking round with an assumption of boldness which he was
+evidently far from feeling.  "Who among my warriors will follow me?"
+
+"Perhaps the evil spirits have carried them away," suggested one of the
+sable crew.
+
+"That is the word of a coward," cried the king, who, although somewhat
+timorous about spirits, was in reality a bold, brave man, and felt
+nettled that any of his warriors should show the white feather.  "If
+evil spirits are there, our fetishman will drive them away.  Let the
+doctor stand forth."
+
+At that moment the doctor, worthy knave, must have wished in his inmost
+soul that he had remained quietly at home and left to warriors the task
+of capturing the fugitives, but there was no resisting the mandate of
+the king; besides, his honour and credit as a fetishman was at stake;
+moreover, no doubt he felt somewhat emboldened by the presence of such a
+large number of men--there were certainly several hundreds on the
+ground--so, all things considered, he thought it best to accept the post
+of leader with a good grace.  Stepping quickly forward, he cried, "Let
+torches be brought, and I will lead the way."
+
+A murmur of approbation ran through the crowd of blacks, who, like a
+flock of sheep, felt bold enough to follow a leader blindly.
+
+While the consultation was going on outside, we were making hasty
+preparation for defending ourselves to the last extremity.  Peterkin, in
+particular, was extremely active, and, to say truth, his actions
+surprised us not a little.  I once or twice fancied that excitement had
+turned his brain.  He first dressed up his head in a species of wild
+turban made of dried grass and tall sedgy leaves; then he put several
+patches of red and white earth on his black face, as well as on his body
+in various places, and fastened a number of loose pieces of rag, torn
+from a handkerchief, and bits of tattered leaves to his arms and legs in
+such a manner as to give him an extremely wild and dishevelled
+appearance.  I must say that when his hasty toilet was completed he
+seemed to me the most horrible-looking demon I had ever conceived of.
+He next poured out nearly a whole flask of gunpowder on a ledge of rock,
+the edge of which was visible from the entrance to the cave, while the
+rock itself concealed him from view.  Last of all, he took up the three
+cones of moistened gunpowder which the reader will remember he had made
+before we left the cave to attack the village.  One of these he placed
+among the grass and branches on his head, the other two he held in his
+hands.
+
+"Now, boys," he said, when all was ready, "all I have to ask of you is
+that you will stand by with matches, and when I give the word light the
+points of those three cones of gunpowder simultaneously and instantly,
+and leave me to finish the remainder of my part.  Of course you will be
+prepared to back me up with your rifles if need be, but keep well out of
+sight at first."
+
+We now saw the drift of our eccentric friend's intention, but for my
+part I felt little confidence in his success.  The plan seemed
+altogether too wild and absurd.  But our danger was imminent.  No way of
+escape seemed possible, and it is wonderful how readily men will grasp
+at anything in the shape of a ruse or stratagem, no matter how silly or
+wild, that affords the most distant chance of escape from danger.  Jack,
+too, I could see from the look of his face, put little faith in the
+plan; and I observed an expression on the countenance of our negro guide
+which seemed to indicate that his respect for Peterkin's wisdom was on
+the wane.
+
+We had not to wait long.  The doctor, with several torch-bearers,
+suddenly darted in with a shout, followed closely by the warriors, who
+yelled furiously, in order, no doubt, to keep up their courage.
+
+Alarmed by such an unusual hubbub in their usually quiet domain, the
+bats came swooping from their holes in the walls by hundreds, and the
+torches were extinguished almost instantly.  The savages who were near
+the entrance drew back in haste; those who had entered stood rooted to
+the spot in terror.
+
+"Now!" whispered Peterkin eagerly.
+
+We struck our lights at once and applied them to the points of the
+gunpowder cones, which instantly began to spout forth a shower of sparks
+with great violence.  Peterkin darted out from behind the rock with a
+yell so appalling that we ourselves were startled by it, having
+forgotten that it formed an element in his plan.  In passing he allowed
+a few sparks to fall on the heap of powder, which exploded with so
+bright a flame that the whole cavern was illuminated for an instant.  It
+also set fire to the ragged scraps with which Peterkin had decked
+himself out--a result which had neither been intended nor anticipated--
+so that he rushed towards the mouth of the cave howling with pain as
+well as with a desire to scare the savages.
+
+The effect of this apparition was tremendous.  The negroes turned and
+crushed through the narrow entrance screaming and shrieking with terror.
+The bats, no less alarmed than the men, and half suffocated with smoke,
+fled out of the cave like a whirlwind, flapping their wings on the heads
+of the negroes in their flight, and adding, if that were possible, to
+their consternation.  The negroes ran as never men ran before, tumbling
+over each other in their mad haste, dashing against trees and crashing
+through bushes in their terror, while Peterkin stood leaping in the
+cave's mouth, smoking and blazing and spurting, and unable to contain
+himself, giving vent to prolonged peals of demoniacal laughter.  Had the
+laugh been that of negroes it might have been recognised; but Peterkin's
+was the loud, violent, British guffaw, which, I make no doubt, was
+deemed by them worthy of the fiends of the haunted cave, and served to
+spur them on to still greater rapidity in their wild career.
+
+Returning into the cave's innermost recess, we lighted one of the
+torches dropped by the savages, and placing it in a sort of natural
+niche, seated ourselves on several pieces of rock to rest.
+
+Our first act was to look earnestly in each other's faces; our next to
+burst into peals of laughter.
+
+"I say, comrades," I exclaimed, checking myself, "don't we run some risk
+in giving vent to our feelings so freely?"
+
+"No fear," cried Peterkin, who was still smoking a little from
+unextinguished sparks.  "There is not a man in the whole crew who will
+draw rein till he is sitting, with the teeth still chattering in his
+head, at his own fireside.  I never saw men in such a fright since I was
+born.  Depend upon it, we are safe enough here from this day forth.--
+Don't you think so, Mak?"
+
+Our guide, who was now trying to reassure his trembling bride, turned,
+with a broad grin on his sable countenance, and said--
+
+"Safe? ho! yis, massa.  Dere not be a man as'll come to dis yere cuvern
+for de nix tree hun'r year or more.  Massa Peterkin be de most
+horriboble ghost dey ever did saw, an' no mistake.  But, massas, we mus'
+go 'way quick an' git to our camp, for de king sure to go dere an' see
+if you no hab someting to do wid it all.  Him's a bery clebber king, am
+Jambai--bery clebber; him's no be bughummed bery easy."
+
+"Humbugged, you mean," said Jack, laughing.  "You're right, Mak; we must
+set off at once.  But what _are_ we to do with poor Okandaga, now that
+we have got her?"
+
+This was indeed a puzzling question.  It was impossible to take her to
+our camp and account to the negroes for her appearance in a satisfactory
+manner; besides, if Jambai took it into his head to pursue us, in order
+to ascertain whether we had had anything to do with the rescue, our case
+would be hopeless.  It was equally impossible to leave her where she
+was, and to let her try to make her escape through the woods alone was
+not to be thought of.  While we pondered this dilemma an idea occurred
+to me.
+
+"It seems to me," said I, "that men are seldom, perhaps never, thrown
+into a danger or difficulty in this world without some way of escape
+being opened up, which, if they will but grasp at it promptly, will
+conduct them at last out of their perplexities.  Now, it has just
+occurred to me that, since everything else seems to be impossible, we
+might send Okandaga into the woods, with Makarooroo to guide and defend
+her and to hunt for her.  Let them travel in a line parallel with the
+river route which we intend to follow.  Each night Mak will make a
+secure shelter for her, and then return to our camp as if he had come in
+from hunting.  Each morning he will set off again into the woods as if
+to hunt, rejoin Okandaga; and thus we will journey together, as it were,
+and when we reach the next tribe of natives we will leave the girl in
+their charge until we return from the gorilla country.  What do you
+think of that plan?"
+
+"Not a bad one," replied Jack; "but if Mak is away all day, what are we
+to do for an interpreter?"
+
+"Make him describe to us and to the men the day's route before leaving
+us," suggested Peterkin; "and as for the talking, we can manage that
+well enough for all needful purposes by a mixture of the few phrases we
+know with signs."
+
+In the excitement of this whole affair we had totally forgotten our two
+prisoners, who lay not far from us on the ground, gagged and pinioned.
+We were now reminded of their presence rather abruptly.  We must have
+secured their fastenings badly, for during the time we were conversing
+they managed to free themselves, and made a sudden dash past us.  Jack's
+eye fortunately caught sight of them in time.  He sprang up, rushed at
+the one nearest him, and throwing out his foot as he passed, tripped him
+up.  It chanced that at that spot there was a deep hole in the floor of
+the cavern.  Into this the poor wretch plunged head first, and he was
+killed on the spot.  Meanwhile, the other gained the outlet of the cave,
+and had almost escaped into the forest, when Makarooroo darted after him
+with the speed of an antelope.  In a few seconds we heard a cry, and
+shortly after our guide returned with his knife clotted with blood.  He
+had overtaken and slain the other negro.
+
+I cannot convey to the reader the horror that filled me and my two
+companions at this unexpected and melancholy termination of the affair.
+Yet we felt that we were guiltless of rashly spilling human blood, for
+Jack had no intention of killing the poor negro whom he tripped up; and
+as to the other, we could not have prevented our guide from doing what
+he did.  He himself deemed it justifiable, and said that if that man had
+escaped to the village, and told who it was that frightened them out of
+the cave, they would certainly have come back and murdered us all.
+There was truth in this.  Still we could not but feel overwhelmed with
+sadness at the incident.
+
+We were now doubly anxious to get away from this cave, so we rapidly
+finished the discussion of our plan, and Jack arranged that he should
+accompany what may be termed the overland part of our expedition.  This
+settled, we washed the charcoal off our persons, with the exception of
+that on our faces, having been advised by King Jambai himself to hunt
+with black faces, as wild animals were quicker to perceive our white
+skins than their black ones.  Then we resumed our garments, and quitting
+the haunted cavern, set out on our return journey to the camp.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+PETERKIN DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF, AND OKANDAGA IS DISPOSED OF, ETCETERA.
+
+When within about three miles of the place where our men had been
+ordered to haul the canoe out of the water and make the camp, we came to
+a halt and prepared a spot for Okandaga to spend an hour or two in
+sleep.  The poor creature was terribly exhausted.  We selected a very
+sequestered place in a rocky piece of ground, where the light of the
+small fire we kindled, in order to cook her some supper, could not be
+seen by any one who might chance to pass by that way.
+
+Jack remained with her, but the guide went on with us, in order to give
+instructions to our men, who, when we arrived, seemed much surprised
+that we had made such a bad hunt during the night.  Having pointed out
+our route, Makarooroo then left us, and we lay down to obtain a few
+hours' repose.
+
+We had not lain more than an hour when one of our men awoke us, saying
+that it was time to start; so we rose, very unwillingly, and embarked.
+
+"I say, Ralph," observed Peterkin, as we glided up the stream, which in
+this place was narrow and sluggish, "isn't it strange that mankind, as a
+rule, with very few exceptions, should so greatly dislike getting up in
+the morning?"
+
+"It is rather curious, no doubt.  But I suspect we have ourselves to
+thank for the disinclination.  If we did not sit up so late at night we
+should not feel the indisposition to rise so strong upon us in the
+morning."
+
+"There you are quite wrong, Ralph.  I always find that the sooner I go
+to bed the later I am in getting up.  The fact is, I've tried every
+method of rousing myself, and without success.  And yet I can say
+conscientiously that I am desirous of improving; for when at sea I used
+to have my cot slung at the head with a block-tackle, and I got one of
+the middies to come when the watch was changed and lower me, so that my
+head lay on the deck below, and my feet pointed to the beams above.  And
+would you believe it, I got so accustomed to this at last that, when
+desperately sleepy, I used to hold on in that position for a few
+minutes, and secure a short nap during the process of suffocation with
+blood to the head."
+
+"You must indeed have been incorrigible," said I, laughing.
+"Nevertheless, I feel assured that the want of will lies at the root of
+the evil."
+
+"Of course you do," retorted Peterkin testily; "people always say that
+when I try to defend myself."
+
+"Is it not probable that people always say that just because they feel
+that there is truth in the remark?"
+
+"Humph!" ejaculated my friend.
+
+"Besides," I continued, "our success in battling with the evil
+tendencies of our natures depends often very much on the manner in which
+we make the attack.  I have pondered this subject deeply, and have come
+to the conclusion that there is a certain moment in the awaking hour of
+each day which if seized and improved gains for us the victory.  You
+know Shakespeare's judicious remark--`There is a tide in the affairs of
+men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune,' or something to
+that effect.  I never feel quite sure of the literal correctness of my
+quotations, although I am generally certain as to the substance.  Well,
+there is a tide also in the affair of getting up in the morning, and its
+flood-point is the precise instant when you recover consciousness.  At
+that moment every one, I believe, has moral courage to leap violently
+out of bed; but let that moment pass, and you sink supinely back, if not
+to sleep, at least into a desperate condition of unconquerable
+lethargy."
+
+"You may be very correct in your reasoning," returned Peterkin; "but not
+having pondered that subject quite so deeply as you seem to have done, I
+shall modestly refrain from discussing it.  Meanwhile I will go ashore,
+and stalk yonder duck which floats so comfortably and lazily in the cove
+just beyond the point ahead of us, that I think it must be in the
+condition of one who, having missed the flood-tide you have just
+referred to, is revelling in the luxury of its second nap.--Ho, you
+ebony-faced scoundrel!" he added, turning to the negro who steered our
+canoe; "shove ashore, like a good fellow.--Come, Ralph, lend me your
+fowling-piece, and do you carry my big rifle.  There is nothing so good
+for breakfast as a fat duck killed and roasted before it has had time to
+cool."
+
+"And here is a capital spot on which to breakfast," said I, as we
+landed.
+
+"First-rate.  Now then, follow me, and mind your muzzle.  Better put the
+rifle over your shoulder, Ralph, so that if it does go off it may hit
+the sun or one of the stars.  A six-ounce ball in one's spine is not a
+pleasant companion in a hunting expedition."
+
+"But," retorted I, "you forget that I am particularly careful.  I always
+carry my piece on half-cock, and _never_ put my finger on the trigger."
+
+"Indeed: not even when you pull it?"
+
+"Of course when I am about to fire; but you know well enough what I
+mean."
+
+"Hush, Ralph! we must keep silence now and step lightly."
+
+In a few minutes we had gained the clump of bushes close behind which
+the duck lay; and Peterkin, going down on all fours, crept forward to
+get a shot.  I followed him in the same manner, and when he stopped to
+take a deliberate aim, I crept up alongside.  The duck had heard our
+approach, and was swimming about in a somewhat agitated manner among the
+tall reeds, so that my companion made one or two unsuccessful attempts
+to take aim.
+
+"What an aggravating thing!" exclaimed Peterkin in a whisper.
+
+At that moment I happened to cast my eyes across the river, and the
+reader may judge of my surprise when I beheld two elephants standing
+among the trees.  They stood so silently and so motionless, and were so
+like in colour to the surrounding foliage, that we had actually
+approached to within about thirty yards without observing them.  I
+touched Peterkin on the shoulder, and pointed to them without saying a
+word.  The expression of amazement that instantly overspread his
+features showed that he also saw them.
+
+"The rifle, Ralph," he said, in a low, excited whisper.
+
+I handed it to him.  With careful deliberation he took aim, and fired at
+the animal nearest to us.  The heavy ball entered its huge body just
+behind the shoulder.  Both elephants tossed up their trunks, and
+elevating their great ears they dashed furiously into the bush; but the
+one that had been hit, after plunging head foremost down a low bank fell
+to the ground with a heavy crash, quite dead.
+
+It was a splendid shot.  The natives, who almost immediately after came
+up screaming with delight, could scarcely believe their eyes.  They
+dashed across the river in the canoe, while some of them, regardless of
+the alligators that might be hidden there, sprang into the water and
+swam over.
+
+"I'm sorry we did not get the duck, however," observed Peterkin, as we
+returned to the place where we had left the canoe.  "Elephant meat is
+coarse, nasty stuff, and totally unfit for civilised mouths, though
+these niggers seem to relish it amazingly."
+
+"You forget the baked foot," said I.
+
+"Well, so I did.  It was pretty good, certainly; but that's the only
+part o' the brute that's fit to eat."
+
+Soon after this the canoe came back and took us over the river; and we
+breakfasted on the side where the elephant had fallen, in order to allow
+the natives to cut off such portions of the meat as they required, and
+to secure the tusks.  Then we continued our journey, and at night
+encamped near a grove of palm-trees which Makarooroo had described to
+us, and where we were soon joined by him and Jack, who told us that he
+had got on well, during the day--that he had shot an antelope, and had
+seen a zebra and a rhinoceros, besides a variety of smaller game.  He
+also told us that Okandaga was encamped in a place of safety a few miles
+to the right of our position, and that she had stood the journey well.
+
+I was much interested by Jack's account of the zebra and the rhinoceros,
+specimens of both of which animals I had seen in menageries, and felt
+disposed to change places with him on the march; but reflecting that he
+was much more likely than I successfully to hunt anything he might
+pursue, I made up my mind to remain by the canoe.
+
+Thus we travelled for several days without anything particular
+occurring, and at length arrived at a native village which lay on the
+banks of a noble stream.
+
+Here Makarooroo introduced us to Mbango the chief, a fine-looking and
+good-natured negro, who received us most hospitably, supplied us with
+food, and urged us to remain and hunt with his people.  This, however,
+we declined to do, telling our entertainer that we had come to his
+country for the purpose of shooting that wonderful animal the gorilla,
+but assuring him that we would come back without fail if we should be
+spared.  We further assured him on this head by proposing to leave in
+his charge a woman for whom we had a great respect and love, and whom we
+made him promise faithfully to take care of till we returned.
+
+Peterkin, who soon gave them a specimen of his powers as a marksman, and
+contrived in other ways to fill the minds of the chief and his people
+with a very exalted idea of his powers both of body and intellect,
+endeavoured to make assurance doubly sure by working on their
+superstitious fears.
+
+"Tell Mbango," said he to our guide, "that though we be small in numbers
+we are very powerful; that we can do deeds" (here he became awfully
+solemn and mysterious) "such as no black man ever conceived of; and that
+if a hair of the head of Okandaga is hurt, we will on our return--"
+
+Instead of completing the sentence, Peterkin started up, threw himself
+into violent contortions, rolled his eyes in a fearful manner, and, in
+short, gave the chief and his people to understand that something quite
+indescribable and unutterably terrible would be the result of their
+playing us false.
+
+"Send for Njamie," said Mbango to one of his retainers.
+
+Njamie, who was the chief's principal wife, soon appeared.  She led a
+sturdy little boy by the hand.  He was her only son, and a very fine
+little fellow, despite the blackness of his skin and his almost total
+want of clothing.
+
+To this woman Mbango gave Okandaga in charge, directing her in our
+presence how to care for her, and assuring her of the most terrible
+punishment should anything befall the woman committed to her care.
+
+Njamie was a mild, agreeable woman.  She had more modesty of demeanour
+and humility of aspect than the most of the women of her tribe whom we
+happened to see, so that we felt disposed to believe that Okandaga was
+placed in as safe keeping as it was possible for us to provide for her
+in our circumstances.  Even Makarooroo appeared to be quite at ease in
+his mind; and it was evidently with a relieved breast and a light heart
+that he bade adieu to his bride, and started along with us on the
+following day on our journey into the deeper recesses of the wilderness.
+
+Before entering upon these transactions with the people of this village,
+we took care to keep our crew in total ignorance of what passed by
+sending them on in advance with the canoe under Jack's care, a few hours
+before we brought Okandaga into the village, or even made mention of her
+existence; and we secured their ready obedience to our orders, and total
+indifference as to our motives in these incomprehensible actions, by
+giving them each a few inches of tobacco--a gift which rendered them
+supremely happy.
+
+One day, about a week after the events above narrated, we met with an
+adventure which well-nigh cost Jack his life, but which ultimately
+resulted in an important change in our manner of travelling.  We were
+traversing an extremely beautiful country with the goods on our
+shoulders, having, in consequence of the increasing turbulence of the
+river as well as its change of direction, been compelled to abandon our
+canoe, and cut across the country in as straight a line as its nature
+would permit.  But this was not easy, for the grass, which was bright
+green, was so long as to reach sometimes higher than our shoulders.
+
+In this species of country Jack's towering height really became of great
+use, enabling him frequently to walk along with his head above the
+surrounding herbage, while we were compelled to grope along, ignorant of
+all that was around us save the tall grass at our sides.  Occasionally,
+however, we came upon more open ground, where the grass was short, and
+then we enjoyed the lovely scenery to the full.  We met with a great
+variety of new plants and trees in this region.  Many of the latter were
+festooned with wild vines and other climbing plants.  Among others, I
+saw several specimens of that curious and interesting tree the banyan,
+with its drop-shoots in every state of growth--some beginning to point
+towards the earth, in which they were ultimately destined to take root;
+some more than half-way down; while others were already fixed, forming
+stout pillars to their parent branches--thus, as it were, on reaching
+maturity, rendering that support which it is the glory as well as the
+privilege of youth to accord to age.  Besides these, there were wild
+dates and palmyra trees, and many others too numerous to mention, but
+the peculiar characteristics of which I carefully jotted down in my
+note-book.  Many small water-courses were crossed, in some of which Mak
+pointed out a number of holes, which he said were made by elephants
+wading in them.  He also told us that several mud-pools, which seemed to
+have been recently and violently stirred up, were caused by the
+wallowing of the rhinoceros; so we kept at all times a sharp lookout for
+a shot.
+
+Lions were also numerous in this neighbourhood, and we constantly heard
+them roaring at night, but seldom saw them during our march.
+
+Well, as I have already remarked, one day we were travelling somewhat
+slowly through the long grass of this country, when, feeling oppressed
+by the heat, as well as somewhat fatigued with my load, I called to
+Jack, who was in advance, to stop for a few minutes to rest.
+
+"Most willingly," he replied, throwing down his load, and wiping away
+the perspiration which stood in large drops on his brow.  "I was on the
+point of calling a halt when you spoke.--How do you get on down there,
+Peterkin?"
+
+Our friend, who had seated himself on the bale he had been carrying, and
+seemed to be excessively hot, looked up with a comical expression of
+countenance, and replied--
+
+"Pretty well, thank'ee.  How do _you_ get on _up there_?"
+
+"Oh, capitally.  There's such a nice cool breeze blowing, I'm quite
+sorry that I cannot send a little of it down."
+
+"Don't distress yourself, my dear fellow; I'll come up to snuff it."
+
+So saying, Peterkin sprang nimbly upon Jack's shoulders, and began to
+gaze round him.
+
+"I say, Peterkin," said Jack, "why are you a very clever fellow just
+now?"
+
+"Don't know," replied Peterkin.  "I give it up at once.  Always do.
+Never could guess a riddle in all my life."
+
+"Because," said Jack, "you're `_up to snuff_.'"
+
+"Oh, oh! that certainly deserves a _pinch_; so there's for you."
+
+Jack uttered a roar, and tossed Peterkin off his shoulders, on receiving
+the punishment.
+
+"Shabby fellow!" cried Peterkin, rubbing his head.  "But, I say, do let
+me up again.  I thought, just as you dropped me, that I saw a place
+where the grass is short.  Ay, there it is, fifty yards or so ahead of
+us, with a palmyra tree on it.  Come, let us go rest there, for I
+confess that I feel somewhat smothered in this long grass."
+
+We took up our packs immediately, and carried them to the spot
+indicated, which we found almost free from long grass.  Here we lay down
+to enjoy the delightful shade of the tree, and the magnificent view of
+the country around us.  Our negroes also seemed to enjoy the shade, but
+they were evidently not nearly so much oppressed with the heat as we
+were, which was very natural.  They seemed to have no perception of the
+beautiful in nature, however, although they appreciated fully the
+agreeable influences by which they were surrounded.
+
+While I lay at the foot of that tree, pondering this subject, I observed
+a very strange-looking insect engaged in a very curious kind of
+occupation.  Peterkin's eye caught sight of it at the same instant with
+mine.
+
+"Hollo!  Jack, look here!" he cried in a whisper.  "I declare, here's a
+beast been and shoved its head into a hole, and converted its tail into
+a trap!"
+
+We all three lay down as quietly as possible, and I could not but smile
+when I thought of the literal correctness of my friend's quaint
+description of what we saw.
+
+The insect was a species of ant-eater.  It was about an inch and a
+quarter long, as thick as a crow-quill, and covered with black hair.  It
+put its head into a little hole in the ground, and quivered its tail
+rapidly.  The ants, which seemed to be filled with curiosity at this
+peculiar sight, went near to see what the strange thing could be; and no
+sooner did one come within the range of the forceps on the insect's
+tail, than it was snapped up.
+
+"Now, that is the most original trapper I ever did see or hear of,"
+remarked Peterkin, with a broad grin.  "I've seen many things in my
+travels, but I never expected to meet with a beast that could catch
+others by merely wagging its tail."
+
+"You forget the hunters of North America," said Jack, "who entice little
+antelopes towards them by merely wagging a bit of rag on the end of a
+ramrod."
+
+"I forget nothing of the sort," retorted Peterkin.  "Wagging a ramrod is
+not wagging a tail.  Besides, I spoke of beasts doing it; men are not
+beasts."
+
+"Then I hold you self-convicted, my boy," exclaimed Jack; "for you have
+often called _me_ a beast."
+
+"By no means, Jack.  I am not self-convicted, but quite correct, as I
+can prove to the satisfaction of any one who isn't a philosopher.  You
+never can prove anything to a philosopher."
+
+"Prove it, then."
+
+"I will.  Isn't a monkey a beast?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Isn't a gorilla a monkey?"
+
+"No doubt it is."
+
+"And aren't _you_ a gorilla?"
+
+"I say, lads, it's time to be going," cried Jack, with a laugh, as he
+rose and resumed his load.
+
+At that moment Mak uttered an exclamation, and pointed towards a
+particular spot in the plain before us, where, close by a clump of
+trees, we saw the graceful head and neck and part of the shoulders of a
+giraffe.  We were naturally much excited at the sight, this being the
+first we had fallen in with.
+
+"You'd better go after it," said Jack to Peterkin, "and take Mak with
+you."
+
+"I'd rather you'd go yourself," replied Peterkin; "for, to say truth,
+I'm pretty well knocked up to-day.  I don't know how it is--one day one
+feels made of iron, as if nothing could tire one; and the next, one
+feels quite weak and spiritless."
+
+"Well, I'll go; but I shall not take any one with me.--Take observation
+of the sun, Mak, and keep a straight course as you are now going until
+night.  D'ye see yonder ridge?"
+
+"Yes, massa."
+
+"Then hold on direct for that, and encamp there.  I'll not be long
+behind you, and hope to bring you a giraffe steak for supper."
+
+We endeavoured to dissuade Jack from going out alone, but he said truly
+that his load distributed among us all was quite sufficient, without
+adding to it by taking away another member of the party.  Thus we
+parted; but I felt a strange feeling of depression, a kind of foreboding
+of evil, which I could not shake off, despite my utmost efforts.
+Peterkin, too, was unusually silent, and I could not avoid seeing that
+he felt more anxiety on account of Jack's rashness than he was willing
+to allow.  Our friend took with him one of our large-bore rifles, and a
+double-barrel of smaller bore slung at his back.
+
+Shortly after parting with him, we descried an ostrich feeding in the
+plain before us.  I had long desired to meet with a specimen of this
+gigantic bird in its native wilds, and Peterkin was equally anxious to
+get a shot at it; so we called a halt, and prepared to stalk it.  We
+were aware that the ostrich is a very silly and very timid bird, but not
+being aware of the best method of hunting it, we asked Makarooroo to
+explain how he was in the habit of doing it.
+
+"You mus' know," he began, "dat bird hims be a mos' ex'roroninary beast.
+When hims run hims go fasterer dan--oh! it be dumpossobable for say how
+much fast hims go.  You no can see him's legs; dey go same as legs ob
+leetle bird.  But hims be horrobably stupid.  Suppose he see you far,
+far away, goin' to de wind'ard ob him, he no run 'way to leeward; hims
+tink you wants to get round him, so off him start to git past you, and
+before hims pass he sometimes come close 'nuff to be shooted or speared.
+Me hab spear him dat way, but him's awful differcult to git at for all
+dat."
+
+"Well then, Mak, after that lucid explanation, what d'you propose that
+we should do?" inquired Peterkin, examining the locks of his rifle.
+
+"Me pruppose dat you go far ober dere, Massa Ralph go not jist so far,
+and me go to de wind'ard and gib him fright."
+
+Acting upon this advice, we proceeded cautiously to the several spots
+indicated, and our guide set off towards an exposed place, where he
+intended to show himself.  In a few minutes we observed the gigantic
+bird look up in alarm, and then we saw Makarooroo running like a deer
+over the plain.  The ostrich instantly rushed off madly at full speed,
+not, as might have been expected, in a contrary direction, or towards
+any place of shelter, but simply, as it appeared to me, with no other
+end in view than that of getting to windward of his supposed enemy.  I
+observed that he took a direction which would quickly bring him within
+range of my companion's rifle, but I was so amazed at the speed with
+which he ran that I could think of nothing else.
+
+Every one knows that the ostrich has nothing worthy of the name of
+wings--merely a small tuft of feathers at each side, with which he
+cannot make even an attempt to fly; but every one does not know,
+probably, that with his stout and long legs he can pass over the ground
+nearly at the ordinary speed of a locomotive engine.  I proved this to
+my own satisfaction by taking accurate observation.  On first observing
+the tremendous speed at which he was going, I seized my note-book, and
+pulling out my watch, endeavoured to count the number of steps he took
+in a minute.  This, however, I found was totally impossible; for his
+legs, big though they were, went so fast that I could no more count them
+than I could count the spokes of a carriage-wheel.  I observed, however,
+that there were two bushes on the plain in the direction of his flight,
+which he would soon have to pass.  I therefore laid down my note-book
+and rifle, and stood with my watch in hand, ready to note the precise
+instants at which he should pass the first and second.  By afterwards
+counting the number of footsteps on the ground between the bushes, and
+comparing the result with the time occupied in passing between the two,
+I thus proposed to myself to ascertain his rate of speed.
+
+Scarcely had I conceived this idea when the bird passed the first bush,
+and I glanced at my watch; then he passed the second, and I glanced
+again.  Thus I noted that he took exactly ten seconds to pass from one
+bush to the other.  While I was in the act of jotting this down I heard
+the report of Peterkin's rifle, and looking up hastily, saw the
+tail-feathers of the ostrich knocked into the air, but the bird itself
+passed on uninjured.  I was deeply mortified at this failure, and all
+the more so that, from past experience, I had been led to believe that
+my friend _never_ missed his mark.  Hurrying up, I exclaimed--
+
+"Why, my dear fellow, what _can_ have come over you?"
+
+Poor Peterkin seemed really quite distressed; he looked quite humbled at
+first.
+
+"Ah!" said he, "it's all very well for you to say, `What has come over
+you?' but you ought to make allowance for a man who has carried a heavy
+load all the forenoon.  Besides, he was almost beyond range.  Moreover,
+although I have hunted a good deal, I really have not been in the habit
+of firing at animal locomotives under full steam.  Did you ever see such
+a slapping pace and such an outrageous pair of legs, Ralph?"
+
+"Never," said I.  "But come with me to yonder bushes.  I'm going to make
+a calculation."
+
+"What's a calcoolashun?" inquired our guide, who came up at that moment,
+panting violently.
+
+"It's a summation, case of counting up one, two, three, etcetera--and
+may be multiplying, subtracting, and dividing into the bargain."
+
+"Ho! dat's what me been do at de missionary school."
+
+"Exactly; but what sort of calculation Ralph means to undertake at
+present I know not.  Perhaps he's going to try to find out whether, if
+we were to run at the rate of six miles an hour till doomsday, in the
+wrong direction, there would be any chance of our ever sticking that
+ostrich's tail again on his big body.  But come along; we shall see."
+
+On reaching the spot I could scarcely believe my eyes.  Each step this
+bird had taken measured fourteen feet in length!  I always carried a
+rolled-up yard-measure about with me, which I applied to the steps, so
+that I could make no mistake.  There were exactly thirty of those
+gigantic paces between the two bushes.  This multiplied by six gave 180
+steps, or 2,520 feet in one minute, which resulted in 151,200 feet, or
+50,400 yards, or very nearly thirty miles in the hour.
+
+"No wonder I only knocked his tail off," said Peterkin.
+
+"On the contrary," said I, "the wonder is that under the circumstances
+you hit the bird at all."
+
+On further examination of the place where we had seen the ostrich before
+it was alarmed, we ascertained that his ordinary walking pace varied
+from twenty to twenty-six inches in length.
+
+After this unsuccessful hunt we returned to our comrades, and proceeded
+to the rendezvous where we expected to find Jack; but as he was not
+there, we concluded that he must have wandered farther than he intended,
+so, throwing down our packs, we set about preparing the camp and a good
+supper against his return.  Gradually the sun began to sink low on the
+horizon; then he dipped below it, and the short twilight of those
+latitudes was rapidly merging into night; but Jack did not return, and
+the uneasiness which we had all along felt in regard to him increased so
+much that we could not refrain from showing it.
+
+"I'll tell you what it is, Ralph," cried Peterkin, starting up suddenly:
+"I'm not going to sit here wasting the time when Jack may be in some
+desperate fix.  I'll go and hunt for him."
+
+"Me tink you right," said our guide; "dere is ebery sort ob ting here--
+beasties and mans.  P'raps Massa Jack am be kill."
+
+I could not help shuddering at the bare idea of such a thing, so I at
+once seconded my companion's proposal, and resolved to accompany him.
+
+"Take your double-barrel, Ralph, and I'll lend our spare big gun to
+Mak."
+
+"But how are we to proceed? which way are we to go?  I have not the most
+distant idea as to what direction we ought to go in our search."
+
+"Leave that to Mak.  He knows the ways o' the country best, and the
+probable route that Jack has taken.  Are you ready?"
+
+"Yes.  Shall we take some brandy?"
+
+"Ay; well thought of.  He'll perhaps be the better of something of that
+sort if anything has befallen him.  Now, then, let's go."
+
+Leaving our men in charge of the camp, with strict injunctions to keep
+good watch and not allow the fires to go down, lest they should be
+attacked by lions, we three set forth on our nocturnal search.  From
+time to time we stood still and shouted in a manner that would let our
+lost friend know that we were in search of him, should he be within
+earshot, but no answering cry came back to us; and we were beginning to
+despair, when we came upon the footprints of a man in the soft soil of a
+swampy spot we had to cross.  It was a clear moonlight night, so that we
+could distinguish them perfectly.
+
+"Ho!" exclaimed our guide, as he stooped to examine the marks.
+
+"Well, Mak, what do you make of it?" inquired Peterkin anxiously.
+
+Mak made no reply for a few seconds; then he rose, and said earnestly,
+"Dat am Massa Jack's foot."
+
+I confess that I was somewhat surprised at the air of confidence with
+which our guide made this statement; for after a most careful
+examination of the prints, which were exceedingly indistinct, I could
+discern nothing to indicate that they had been made by Jack.
+
+"Are you sure, Mak?" asked Peterkin.
+
+"Sartin sure, massa."
+
+"Then push on as fast as you can."
+
+Presently we came to a spot where the ground was harder and the prints
+more distinct.
+
+"Ha! you're wrong, Mak," cried Peterkin, in a voice of disappointment,
+as he stooped to examine the footsteps again.  "Here we have the print
+of a naked foot; Jack wore shoes.  And, what's this? blood!"
+
+"Yis, massa, me know dat Massa Jack hab shoes.  But dat be him's foot
+for all dat, and him's hurt somehow for certain."
+
+The reader may imagine our state of mind on making this discovery.
+Without uttering another word, we quickened our pace into a smart run,
+keeping closely in the track of Jack's steps.  Soon we observed that
+these deviated from side to side in an extraordinary manner, as if the
+person who made them had been unable to walk straight.  In a few minutes
+more we came on the footprints of a rhinoceros--a sight which still
+further increased our alarm.  On coming out from among a clump of low
+bushes that skirted the edge of a small plain, we observed a dark object
+lying on the ground about fifty yards distant from us.  I almost sank
+down with an undefinable feeling of dread on beholding this.
+
+We held our rifles in readiness as we approached it at a quick pace, for
+we knew not whether it was not a wild animal which might spring upon us
+the moment we came close enough.  But a few seconds dispelled our dread
+of such an attack and confirmed our worst fears, for there, in a pool of
+blood, lay Jack's manly form.  The face was upturned, and the moon,
+which shone full upon it, showed that it was pale as death and covered
+with blood.  His clothes were rent and dishevelled and covered with
+dust, as if he had struggled hard with some powerful foe, and all round
+the spot were footprints of a rhinoceros, revealing too clearly the
+character of the terrible monster with which our friend had engaged in
+unequal conflict.
+
+Peterkin darted forward, tore open Jack's shirt at the breast, and laid
+his hand upon his heart.
+
+"Thank God," he muttered, in a low, subdued tone, "he's not dead!
+Quick, Ralph--the brandy-flask."
+
+I instantly poured a little of the spirit into the silver cup attached
+to the flask, and handed it to Peterkin, who, after moistening Jack's
+lips, began assiduously to rub his chest and forehead with brandy.
+Kneeling down by his side I assisted him, while I applied some to his
+feet.  While we were thus engaged we observed that our poor friend's
+arms and chest had received several severe bruises and some slight
+wounds, and we also discovered a terrible gash in his right thigh which
+had evidently been made by the formidable horn of the rhinoceros.  This,
+and the other wounds which were still bleeding pretty freely, we
+stanched and bound up, and our exertions were at length rewarded by the
+sight of a faint tinge of colour returning to Jack's cheeks.  Presently
+his eyes quivered, and heaving a short, broken sigh, he looked up.
+
+"Where am I, eh?  Why, what's wrong? what has happened?" he asked
+faintly, in a tone of surprise.
+
+"All right, old boy.  Here, take a swig of this, you abominable
+gorilla," said Peterkin, holding the brandy-flask to his mouth, while
+one or two tears of joy rolled down his cheeks.
+
+Jack drank, and rallied a little.
+
+"I've been ill, I see," he said gently.  "Ah!  I remember now.  I've
+been hurt--the rhinoceros; eh, have you killed it?  I gave it a good
+shot.  It must have been mortal, I think."
+
+"Whether you've killed it or not I cannot tell," said I, taking off my
+coat and putting it under Jack's head for a pillow, "but it has pretty
+nearly killed _you_.  Do you feel worse, Jack?"
+
+I asked this in some alarm, observing that he had turned deadly pale
+again.
+
+"He's fainted, man; out o' the way!" cried Peterkin, as he applied the
+brandy again to his lips and temples.
+
+In a few seconds Jack again rallied.
+
+"Now, Mak, bestir yourself," cried Peterkin, throwing off his coat.
+"Cut down two stout poles, and we'll make some sort of litter to carry
+him on."
+
+"I say, Ralph," whispered Jack faintly, "do look to my wounds and see
+that they are all tightly bound up.  I can't afford to lose another drop
+of blood.  It's almost all drained away, I believe."
+
+While I examined my friend's wounds and readjusted the bandages, my
+companions cut down two poles.  These we laid on the ground parallel to
+each other and about two feet apart, and across them laid our three
+coats, which we fastened in a rough fashion by means of some strong
+cords which I fortunately happened to have with me.  On this rude litter
+we laid our companion, and raised him on our shoulders.  Peterkin and I
+walked in rear, each supporting one of the poles; while Makarooroo,
+being the stoutest of the three, supported the entire weight of the
+other ends on his broad shoulders.  Jack bore the moving better than we
+had expected, so that we entertained sanguine hopes that no bones were
+broken, but that loss of blood was all he had to suffer from.
+
+Thus slowly and with much difficulty we bore our wounded comrade to the
+camp.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+I DISCOVER A CURIOUS INSECT, AND PETERKIN TAKES A STRANGE FLIGHT.
+
+It happened most fortunately at this time that we were within a short
+day's journey of a native village, to which, after mature consideration,
+we determined to convey Jack, and remain there until he should be
+sufficiently recovered to permit of our resuming our journey.  Hitherto
+we had studiously avoided the villages that lay in our route, feeling
+indisposed to encounter unnecessarily the risk of being inhospitably
+received--perhaps even robbed of our goods, if nothing worse should
+befall us.  There was, however, no other alternative now; for Jack's
+wounds were very severe, and the amount of blood lost by him was so
+great that he was as weak as a child.  Happily, no bones were broken, so
+we felt sanguine that by careful nursing for a few weeks we should get
+him set firmly upon his legs again.
+
+On the following morning we set forth on our journey, and towards
+evening reached the village, which was situated on the banks of a small
+stream, in the midst of a beautiful country composed of mingled plain
+and woodland.
+
+It chanced that the chief of this village was connected by marriage with
+King Jambai--a most fortunate circumstance for us, as it ensured our
+being hospitably received.  The chief came out to meet us riding on the
+shoulders of a slave, who, although a much smaller man than his master,
+seemed to support his load with much case.  Probably habit had
+strengthened him for his special work.  A large hut was set apart for
+our accommodation; a dish of yams, a roast monkey, and a couple of fowls
+were sent to us soon after our arrival, and, in short, we experienced
+the kindest possible reception.
+
+None of the natives of this village had ever seen a white face in their
+lives, and, as may well be imagined, their curiosity and amazement were
+unbounded.  The people came constantly crowding round our hut,
+remaining, however, at a respectful distance, and gazed at us until I
+began to fear they would never go away.
+
+Here we remained for three weeks, during which time Jack's wounds healed
+up, and his strength returned rapidly.  Peterkin and I employed
+ourselves in alternately tending our comrade, and in scouring the
+neighbouring woods and plains in search of wild animals.
+
+As we were now approaching the country of the gorilla--although, indeed,
+it was still far distant--our minds began to run more upon that terrible
+creature than used to be the case; and our desire to fall in with it was
+increased by the strange accounts of its habits and its tremendous power
+that we received from the natives of this village, some of whom had
+crossed the desert and actually met with the gorilla face to face.  More
+than once, while out hunting, I have been so taken up with this subject
+that I have been on the point of shooting a native who appeared
+unexpectedly before me, under the impression that he was a specimen of
+the animal on which my thoughts had been fixed.
+
+One day about a week after our arrival, as I was sitting at the side of
+Jack's couch relating to him the incidents of a hunt after a buffalo
+that Makarooroo and I had had the day before, Peterkin entered with a
+swaggering gait, and setting his rifle down in a corner, flung himself
+on the pile of skins that formed his couch.
+
+"I'll tell you what it is," said he, with the look and tone of a man who
+feels that he has been unwarrantably misled--"I don't believe there's
+such a beast as a gorilla at all; _now_, that's a fact."
+
+There was something so confident and emphatic in my comrade's manner
+that, despite my well-grounded belief on that point, I felt a sinking at
+the heart.  The bare possibility that, after all our trouble and toil
+and suffering in penetrating thus far towards the land which he is said
+to inhabit, we should find that there really existed no such creature as
+the gorilla was too terrible to think upon.
+
+"Peterkin," said I anxiously, "what do you mean?"
+
+"I mean," replied he slowly, "that Jack is the only living specimen of
+the gorilla in Africa."
+
+"Come, now, I see you are jesting."
+
+"Am I?" cried Peterkin savagely--"jesting, eh?  That means expressing
+thoughts and opinions which are not to be understood literally.  Oh, I
+would that I were sure that I am jesting!  Ralph, it's my belief, I tell
+you, that the gorilla is a regular sell--a great, big, unnatural hairy
+_do_!"
+
+"But I saw the skeleton of one in London."
+
+"I don't care for that.  You may have been deceived, humbugged.  Perhaps
+it was a compound of the bones of a buffalo and a chimpanzee."
+
+"Nay, that were impossible," said I quickly; "for no one pretending to
+have any knowledge of natural history and comparative anatomy could be
+so grossly deceived."
+
+"What like was the skeleton, Ralph?" inquired Jack, who seemed to be
+rather amused by our conversation.
+
+"It was nearly as tall as that of a medium-sized man--I should think
+about five feet seven or eight inches; but the amazing part about it was
+the immense size and thickness of its bones.  Its shoulders were much
+broader than yours, Jack, and your chest is a mere child's compared with
+that of the specimen of the gorilla that I saw.  Its legs were very
+short--much shorter than those of a man; but its arms were tremendous--
+they were more than a foot longer than yours.  In fact, if the brute's
+legs were in the same proportion to its body as are those of a man, it
+would be a giant of ten or eleven feet high.  Or, to take another view
+of it, if you were to take a robust and properly proportioned giant of
+that height, and cut down his legs until he stood about the height of an
+ordinary man, _that_ would be a gorilla."
+
+"I don't believe it," cried Peterkin.
+
+"Well, perhaps my simile is not quite so felicitous as--"
+
+"I don't mean that," interrupted Peterkin; "I mean that I don't believe
+there's such a brute as a gorilla at all."
+
+"Why, what has made you so sceptical?" inquired Jack.
+
+"The nonsense that these niggers have been telling me, through the
+medium of Mak as an interpreter; that is what has made me sceptical.
+Only think, they say that a gorilla is so strong that he can lift a man
+by the nape of the neck clean off the ground with one of his hind feet!
+Yes, they say he is in the habit of sitting on the lower branches of
+trees in lonely dark parts of the wood watching for prey, and when a
+native chances to pass by close enough he puts down his hind foot,
+seizes the wretched man therewith, lifts him up into the tree, and
+quietly throttles him.  They don't add whether or not he eats him
+afterwards, or whether he prefers him boiled or roasted.  Now, I don't
+believe that."
+
+"Neither do I," returned Jack; "nevertheless the fact that these fellows
+recount such wonderful stories at all, is, to some extent, evidence in
+favour of their existence: for in such a country as this, where so many
+wonderful and horrible animals exist, men are not naturally tempted to
+invent _new_ creatures; it is sufficient to satisfy their craving for
+the marvellous that they should merely exaggerate what does already
+exist."
+
+"Go to, you sophist! if what you say be true, and the gorilla turns out
+to be only an exaggerated chimpanzee or ring-tailed roarer, does not
+that come to the same thing as saying that there is no gorilla at all--
+always, of course, excepting yourself?"
+
+"Credit yourself with a punched head," said Jack, "and the account shall
+be balanced when I am sufficiently recovered to pay you off.  Meanwhile,
+continue your account of what the niggers say about the gorilla."
+
+Peterkin assumed a look of offended dignity as he replied--
+
+"Without deigning any rejoinder to the utterly absurd and totally
+irrelevant matter contained in the preliminary sentences of your last
+remark, I pass on to observe that the natives of these wilds hold the
+opinion that there is one species of the gorilla which is the residence
+of the spirits of defunct niggers, and that these fellows are known by
+their unusual size and ferocity."
+
+"Hold," cried I, "until I get out my note-book.  Now, Peterkin, no
+fibs."
+
+"Honour bright," said he, "I'll give it you just as I got it.  These
+_possessed_ brutes are never caught, and can't be killed.  (I only hope
+I may get the chance to try whether that be true or not.)  They often
+carry off natives into the woods, where they pull out their toe and
+finger nails by the roots and then let them go; and they are said to be
+uncommonly fond of sugar-cane, which they steal from the fields of the
+natives sometimes in a very daring manner."
+
+"Is that all?" said I.
+
+"All!" exclaimed my comrade.  "How much more would you have?  Do you
+suppose that the gorilla can do anything it likes--hang by its tail from
+the moon, or sit down on its nose and run round on its chin?"
+
+"Massa Jack," said Makarooroo, entering the hut and interrupting our
+conversation at this point, "de chief hims tell to me for to tell to you
+dat w'en you's be fit for go-hid agin hims gib you cottle for sit upon."
+
+"Cottle, Mak! what's _cottle_?" inquired Jack, with a puzzled look.
+
+"Ho, massa, you know bery well; jist cottle--hoxes, you know."
+
+"Indeed, I don't know," replied Jack, still more puzzled.
+
+"I've no doubt," interposed Peterkin, "that he means cuttle, which is
+the short name for cuttle-fish, which, in such an inland place as this,
+must of course be hoaxes!  But what do you mean, Mak?  Describe the
+thing to us."
+
+Mak scratched his woolly pate, as if he were quite unable to explain
+himself.
+
+"O massas, you be most stoopid dis yer day.  Cottle not a ting; hims am
+a beast, wid two horn an' one tail.  Dere," said he, pointing with
+animation to a herd of cattle that grazed near our hut, "dat's cottle,
+or hoxes."
+
+We all laughed at this proposal.
+
+"What!" cried Jack, "does he mean us to ride upon `hoxes' as if they
+were horses?"
+
+"Yis, massa, hims say dat.  Hims hear long ago ob one missionary as hab
+do dat; so de chief he tink it bery good idea, an' hims try too, an'
+like it bery much; only hims fell off ebery tree steps an' a'most broke
+all de bones in him's body down to powder.  But hims git up agin and
+fell hoff agin.  Oh, hims like it bery much!"
+
+"If we follow the chief's example," said I, laughing, "we shall scarcely
+be in a fit state to hunt gorillas at the end of our journey; but now I
+come to think of it, the plan seems to me not a bad one.  You know a
+great part of our journey now lies over a comparatively desert country,
+where we shall be none the worse of a ride now and then on ox-back to
+relieve our limbs.  I think the proposal merits consideration."
+
+"Right, Ralph," said Jack.--"Go, Mak, and tell his majesty, or
+chieftainship, or his royal highness, with my compliments, that I am
+much obliged by the offer, and will consider it.  Also give him this
+plug of tobacco; and see you don't curtail its dimensions before it
+leaves your hand, you rascal."
+
+Our guide grinned as he left the hut to execute his mission, and we
+turned to converse on this new plan, which, the more we thought of it,
+seemed the more to grow in our estimation as most feasible.
+
+"Now, lads, leave me," said Jack, with a sigh, after we had chatted for
+more than an hour.  "If I am to go through all that our worthy host
+seems to have suffered, it behoves me to get my frame into a fit state
+to stand it.  I shall therefore try to sleep."
+
+So saying he turned round on his side, and we left him to his slumbers.
+
+As it was still early in the afternoon, we two shouldered our rifles and
+strolled away into the woods, partly with the intention of taking a shot
+at anything that might chance to come in our way, but chiefly with the
+view of having a pleasant chat about our prospect of speedily reaching
+that goal of our ambition--the gorilla country.
+
+"It seems to me," observed Peterkin, as we walked side by side over an
+open grassy and flower-speckled plain that lay about a couple of miles
+distant from the village--"it seems to me that we shall _never_ reach
+this far-famed country."
+
+"I have no doubt that we shall," said I; "but tell me, Peterkin, do you
+really doubt the existence of the gorilla?"
+
+"Well, since you do put it to me so very seriously, I can scarce tell
+what I believe.  The fact is, that I'm such a sceptical wretch by nature
+that I find it difficult to believe anything unless I see it."
+
+I endeavoured to combat this very absurd state of mind in my companion
+by pointing out to him very clearly that if he were to act upon such a
+principle at all times, he would certainly disbelieve many of the
+commonest facts in nature, and give full credit, on the other hand, to
+the most outrageous absurdities.
+
+"For instance," said I, "you would believe that every conjurer swallows
+fire, and smoke, and penknives, and rabbits, because you _see_ him do
+it; and you would disbelieve the existence of the pyramids, because you
+don't happen to have seen them."
+
+"Ralph," said my companion seriously, "don't go in too deep, else I
+shall be drowned!"
+
+I was about to make some reply, when my attention was attracted by a
+very singular appearance of moisture at the foot of a fig-tree under
+which we were passing.  Going up to it I found that there was a small
+puddle of clear water near the trunk.  This occasioned me much surprise,
+for no rain had fallen in that district since our arrival, and probably
+there had been none for a long period before that.  The ground
+everywhere, except in the large rivers and water-courses, was quite dry,
+insomuch that, as I have said, this little solitary pool (which was not
+much larger than my hand) occasioned us much surprise.
+
+"How comes it there?" said I.
+
+"That's more than I can tell," replied Peterkin.  "Perhaps there's a
+small spring at the root of the tree."
+
+"Perhaps there is," said I, searching carefully round the spot in all
+directions; but I found nothing to indicate the presence of a spring--
+and, indeed, when I came to think of it, if there had been a spring
+there would also certainly have been a water-course leading from it.
+But such was not the case.  Presently I observed a drop of water fall
+into the pool, and looking up, discovered that it fell from a cluster of
+insects that clung to a branch close over our heads.
+
+I at once recognised this water-distilling insect as an old
+acquaintance.  I had seen it before in England, although of a
+considerably smaller size than this African one.  My companion also
+seemed to be acquainted with it, for he exclaimed--
+
+"Ho!  I know the fellow.  He's what we used at home to call a
+`frog-hopper' after he got his wings, and a `cuckoo-spit' before that
+time; but these ones are six times the size of ours."
+
+I was aware that there was some doubt among naturalists as to whence
+these insects procured the water they distilled.  My own opinion,
+founded on observations made at this time, led me to think the greater
+part of the moisture is derived from the atmosphere, though, possibly,
+some of it may be procured by suction from the trees.  I afterwards paid
+several visits to this tree, and found, by placing a vessel beneath
+them, that these insects distilled during a single night as much as
+three or four pints of water!
+
+Turning from this interesting discovery, we were about to continue our
+walk, when we observed a buffalo bull feeding in the open plain, not
+more than five or six hundred yards off from us.
+
+"Ha!  Ralph, my boy," cried Peterkin enthusiastically, "here is metal
+more attractive!  Follow me; we must make a detour in order to get to
+leeward of him."
+
+We set off at a brisk pace, and I freely confess that, although the
+contemplation of the curious processes of the water-distilling insect
+afforded me deeper and more lasting enjoyment, the gush of excitement
+and eagerness that instantly followed the discovery of the wild buffalo
+bull enabled me thoroughly to understand the feeling that leads men--
+especially the less contemplative among them--infinitely to prefer the
+pleasures of the chase to the calmer joys attendant upon the study of
+natural history.
+
+At a later period that evening I had a discussion with my companions on
+that subject, when I stood up for the pursuit of scientific knowledge as
+being truly elevating and noble, while the pursuit of game was, to say
+the least of it, a species of pleasure more suited to the tastes and
+condition of the savage than of the civilised man.
+
+To this Peterkin replied--having made a preliminary statement to the
+effect that I was a humbug--that a man's pluck was brought out and his
+nerves improved by the noble art of hunting, which was beautifully
+scientific in its details, and which had the effect of causing a man to
+act like a man and look like a man--not like a woman or a nincompoop, as
+was too often the case with scientific men.
+
+Hereupon Jack announced it as his opinion that we were both wrong and
+both right; which elicited a cry of "Bravo!" from Peterkin.  "For," said
+Jack, "what would the naturalist do without the hunter?  His museums
+would be almost empty and his knowledge would be extremely limited.  On
+the other hand, if there were no naturalists, the hunter--instead of
+being the hero who dares every imaginable species of danger, in order to
+procure specimens and furnish information that will add to the sum of
+human knowledge--would degenerate into the mere butcher, who supplies
+himself and his men with meat; or into the semi-murderer, who delights
+in shedding the blood of inferior animals.  The fact is, that the
+naturalist and the hunter are indispensably necessary to each
+other--`both are best,' to use an old expression; and when both are
+combined in one, as in the case of the great American ornithologist
+Audubon, that is best of all."
+
+"Betterer than both," suggested Peterkin.
+
+But to return from this digression.
+
+In less than quarter of an hour we gained a position well to leeward of
+the buffalo, which grazed quietly near the edge of the bushes, little
+dreaming of the enemies who were so cautiously approaching to work its
+destruction.
+
+"Keep well in rear of me, Ralph," said Peterkin, as we halted behind a
+bush to examine our rifles.  "I'll creep as near to him as I can, and if
+by any chance I should not kill him at the first shot, do you run up and
+hand me your gun."
+
+Without waiting for a reply, my companion threw himself on his breast,
+and began to creep over the plain like a snake in the grass.  He did
+this so well and so patiently that he reached to within forty yards of
+the bull without being discovered.  Then he ceased to advance, and I saw
+his head and shoulders slowly emerge from among the grass, and presently
+his rifle appeared, and was slowly levelled.  It was one of our
+large-bore single-barrelled rifles.
+
+He lay in this position for at least two minutes, which seemed to me a
+quarter of an hour, so eager was I to see the creature fall.  Suddenly I
+heard a sharp snap or crack.  The bull heard it too, for it raised its
+huge head with a start.  The cap of Peterkin's rifle had snapped, and I
+saw by his motions that he was endeavouring, with as little motion as
+possible, to replace it with another.  But the bull caught sight of him,
+and uttering a terrific roar charged in an instant.
+
+It is all very well for those who dwell at home in security to think
+they know what the charge of an infuriated buffalo bull is.  Did they
+see it in reality, as I saw it at that time, tearing madly over the
+grass, foaming at the mouth, flashing at the eyes, tossing its tail, and
+bellowing hideously, they would have a very different idea from what
+they now have of the trials to which hunters' nerves are frequently
+exposed.
+
+Peterkin had not time to cap.  He leaped up, turned round, and ran for
+the woods at the top of his speed; but the bull was upon him in an
+instant.  Almost before I had time to realise what was occurring, I
+beheld my companion tossed high into the air.  He turned a distinct
+somersault, and fell with a fearful crash into the centre of a small
+bush.  I cannot recall my thoughts on witnessing this.  I remember only
+experiencing a sharp pang of horror and feeling that Peterkin must
+certainly have been killed.  But whatever my thoughts were they must
+have been rapid, for the time allowed me was short, as the bull turned
+sharp round after tossing Peterkin and rushed again towards the bush,
+evidently with the intention of completing the work of destruction.
+
+Once again I experienced that strange and sudden change of feeling to
+which I have before referred.  I felt a bounding sensation in my breast
+which tingled to my finger-ends.  At the same time my head became clear
+and cool.  I felt that Providence had placed the life of my friend in my
+hands.  Darting forward in advance of the bush, I awaited the charge of
+the infuriated animal.  On it came.  I knew that I was not a
+sufficiently good shot to make sure of hitting it in the brain.  I
+therefore allowed it to come within a yard of me, and then sprang
+lightly to one side.  As it flew past, I never thought of taking aim or
+putting the piece to my shoulder, but I thrust the muzzle against its
+side and pulled both triggers at once.
+
+From that moment consciousness forsook me, and I knew not what had
+occurred for some minutes after.  The first object that met my confused
+vision when I again opened my eyes was Peterkin, who was seated close
+beside me on the body of the dead buffalo, examining some bloody
+scratches on the calf of his left leg.  He had evidently been attempting
+to restore me to consciousness, for I observed that a wet handkerchief
+lay on my forehead.  He muttered to himself as he examined his wounds--
+
+"This comes of not looking to one's caps.  Humph!  I do believe that
+every bone in my body is--ah! here's another cut, two inches at least,
+and into the bone of course, to judge from the flow of blood.  I wonder
+how much blood I can afford to lose without being floored altogether.
+Such a country!  I wonder how high I went.  I felt as if I'd got above
+the moon.  Hollo, Ralph! better?"
+
+I sat up as he said this, and looked at him earnestly.
+
+"My dear Peterkin, then you're not killed after all."
+
+"Not quite, but pretty near.  If it had not been for that friendly bush
+I should have fared worse.  It broke my fall completely, and I really
+believe that my worst hurts are a few scratches.  But how are _you_,
+Ralph?  Yours was a much more severe case than mine.  You should hold
+your gun tighter, man, when you fire without putting it to your
+shoulder."
+
+"How? why? what do you mean?"
+
+"Simply this, that in consequence of your reckless manner of holding
+your rifle, it came back with such a slap on your chest that it floored
+you."
+
+"This, then, accounts for the pain I feel in it.  But come," said I,
+rising and shaking my limbs to make sure that no bones were broken; "we
+have reason to be very thankful we have escaped so easily.  I made sure
+that you were killed when I saw you flying through the air."
+
+"I always had a species of cat-luck about me," replied Peterkin, with a
+smile.  "But now let us cut off a bit o' this fellow to take back with
+us for Jack's supper."
+
+With some difficulty we succeeded in cutting out the buffalo's tongue by
+the root, and carried it back to the village, where, after displaying it
+as an evidence of our prowess, we had it cooked for supper.
+
+The slight hurts that we had received at the time of this adventure were
+speedily cured, and about two weeks after that we were all well enough
+to resume our journey.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+WATER APPRECIATED--DESTRUCTIVE FILES, ETCETERA.
+
+Our first start from the village where we had been entertained so
+hospitably and so long was productive of much amusement to ourselves and
+to the natives.
+
+We had determined to accept of three oxen from the chief, and to ride
+these when we felt fatigued; but we thought it best to let our native
+porters carry our baggage on their shoulders, as they had hitherto done.
+
+When the animals were led up to our hut, we could not refrain from
+laughing.  They were three sturdy-looking dark-skinned oxen, with
+wicked-looking black eyes and very long horns.
+
+"Now, Jack, do you get up first," said Peterkin, "and show us what we
+are to expect."
+
+"Nay, lad; I am still entitled to be considered an invalid: so you must
+get up first, and not only so, but you must try them all, in order that
+I may be enabled to select the quietest."
+
+"Upon my word, you are becoming despotic in your sickness, and you
+forget that it is but a short time since I came down from a journey to
+the sky, and that my poor bones are still tender.  But here goes.  I was
+born to be victimised, so I submit to the decrees of Fate."
+
+Peterkin went up to one of the oxen and attempted to mount it; but the
+animal made a demonstration of an intention to gore him, and obstinately
+objected to this.
+
+"Hold him tight, Mak," he cried, after several futile attempts to mount.
+"I was always good at leap-frog when a schoolboy; see if I don't bring
+my powers into play now."
+
+So saying, he went behind the ox, took a short race and sprang with the
+agility of a monkey over its tail on to its back!  The ox began to kick
+and sidle and plunge heavily on receiving this unexpected load; but its
+rider held on well, until it took it into its head to dart under a
+neighbouring tree, the lower branches of which swept him off and caused
+him to fall with a heavy plump to the ground.
+
+"I told you so," he cried, rising with a rueful face, and rubbing
+himself as he limped forward.  However, his pain was more than half
+affected, for the next minute he was on the back of another ox.  This
+one also proved restive, but not so much so as the first.  The third was
+a very quiet animal, so Jack appropriated it as his charger.
+
+Having bade adieu to the chief and rubbed noses with him and with
+several of our friends in the village, we all three got upon our novel
+steeds and set forth.  But we had not got away from the village more
+than a mile when the two restive oxen began to display a firm
+determination to get rid of their intolerable burden.  Mine commenced to
+back and sidle, and Peterkin's made occasional darts forward, and then
+stopping suddenly, refused to budge a step.  We lost all patience at
+last, and belaboured them soundly with twigs, the effect of which was to
+make them advance rather slowly, and evidently under protest.
+
+"Look out for branches," cried Peterkin as we came up to a narrow belt
+of wood.
+
+I had scarcely time to raise my head when I was swept off my seat and
+hurled to the ground by a large branch.  Peterkin's attention was drawn
+to me, and his ox, as if aware of the fact, seized the opportunity to
+swerve violently to one side, thereby throwing its rider off.  Both
+animals gave a bellow, as of triumph, erected their tails, and ran away.
+They were soon recaptured, however, by our negroes; and mounting once
+more, we belaboured them well and continued our journey.  In course of
+time they became more reconciled to their duties; but I cannot say that
+I ever came to enjoy such riding, and all of us ultimately agreed that
+it was a most undesirable thing to journey on ox-back.
+
+Thus we commenced our journey over this desert or plain of Africa, and
+at the end of many weeks found ourselves approaching that part of the
+country near the equator in which the gorilla is said to dwell.  On the
+way we had many adventures, some of an amusing, some of a dangerous
+character, and I made many additions to my collection of animals,
+besides making a number of valuable and interesting notes in my journal;
+but all this I am constrained to pass over, in order to introduce my
+reader to those regions in which some of our most wonderful adventures
+occurred.
+
+One or two things, however, I must not omit to mention.
+
+In passing over the desert we suffered much from want of water.
+Frequently the poor oxen had to travel two or three days without tasting
+a drop, and their distress was so great that we more than once thought
+of turning them adrift at the first good watering-place we should come
+to, and proceed, as formerly, on foot; for we had all recovered our
+wonted vigour, and were quite capable of standing the fatigues of the
+journey as well as our men.  But several times we had found the country
+destitute of game, and were reduced to the point of starvation; so we
+continued to keep the oxen, lest we should require them for food.
+
+On one occasion we were wending our way slowly along the bed of what in
+the rainy season would become a large river, but which was now so
+thoroughly dry that we could not find even a small pool in which the
+oxen might slake their thirst.  They had been several days absolutely
+without a drop of water, while we were reduced to a mouthful or two per
+man in the day.  As we could not exist much longer without the
+life-giving fluid, Jack dismounted, and placing the load of one of the
+men on the ox's back, sent him off in advance to look for water.  We had
+that morning seen the footprints of several animals which are so fond of
+water that they are never found at any great distance from some spot
+where it may be found.  We therefore felt certain of falling in with it
+ere long.
+
+About two hours afterwards our negro returned, saying that he had
+discovered a pool of rain-water, and showing the marks of mud on his
+knees in confirmation of the truth of what he said.
+
+"Ask him if there's much of it, Mak," said Jack, as we crowded eagerly
+round the man.
+
+"Hims say there be great plenty ob it--'nuff to tumble in."
+
+Gladdened by this news we hastened forward.  The oxen seemed to have
+scented the water from afar, for they gradually became more animated,
+and quickened their pace of their own accord, until they at last broke
+into a run.  Peterkin and I soon outstripped our party, and quite
+enjoyed the gallop.
+
+"There it is," cried my comrade joyfully, pointing to a gleaming pond in
+a hollow of the plain not two hundred yards off.
+
+"Hurrah!"  I shouted, unable to repress my delight at the sight.
+
+The oxen rushed madly forward, and we found that they were away with us.
+No pulling at our rope-bridles had any effect on them.  My companion,
+foreseeing what would happen, leaped nimbly off just as he reached the
+margin of the pond.  I being unable to collect my thoughts for the
+emergency, held on.  My steed rushed into the water up to the neck, and
+stumbling as he did so, threw me into the middle of the pond, out of
+which I scrambled amidst the laughter of the whole party, who came up
+almost as soon as the oxen, so eager were they to drink.
+
+After appeasing our own thirst we stood looking at the oxen, and it
+really did our hearts good to see the poor thirsty creatures enjoy
+themselves so thoroughly.  They stood sucking in the water as if they
+meant to drink up the whole pond, half shutting their eyes, which became
+mild and amiable in appearance under the influence of extreme
+satisfaction.  Their sides, which had been for the last two days in a
+state of collapse, began to swell, and at last were distended to such an
+extent that they seemed as if ready to burst.  In point of fact the
+creatures were actually as full as they could hold; and when at length
+they dragged themselves slowly, almost unwillingly, out of the pool, any
+sudden jerk or motion caused some of the water to run out of their
+mouths!
+
+Some time after that we were compelled to part with our poor steeds, in
+consequence of their being bitten by an insect which caused their death.
+
+This destructive fly, which is called tsetse, is a perfect scourge in
+some parts of Africa.  Its bite is fatal to the horse, ox, and dog, yet,
+strange to say, it is not so to man or to wild animals.  It is not much
+larger than the common house-fly, and sucks the blood in the same manner
+as the mosquito, by means of a proboscis with which it punctures the
+skin.  When man is bitten by it, no more serious evil than slight
+itching of the part follows.  When the ox is bitten no serious effect
+follows at first, but a few days afterwards a running takes place at the
+eyes and nose, swellings appear under the jaw and on other parts of the
+body, emaciation quickly follows, even although the animal may continue
+to graze, and after a long illness, sometimes of many weeks, it dies in
+a state of extreme exhaustion.
+
+The tsetse inhabits certain localities in great numbers, while other
+places in the immediate neighbourhood are entirely free.  Those natives,
+therefore, who have herds of cattle avoid the dangerous regions most
+carefully; yet, despite their utmost care, they sometimes come
+unexpectedly on the _habitat_ of this poisonous fly, and lose the
+greater part of their cattle.
+
+When our poor oxen were bitten and the fatal symptoms began to appear,
+we knew that their fate was sealed; so we conducted them into a pleasant
+valley on which we chanced to alight, where there was plenty of grass
+and water, and there we left them to die.
+
+Another incident occurred to us in this part of our journey which is
+worthy of record.
+
+One day Peterkin and I had started before our party with our rifles, and
+had gone a considerable distance in advance of them, when we
+unexpectedly came upon a band of natives who were travelling in an
+opposite direction.  Before coming up with their main body, we met with
+one of their warriors, who came upon us suddenly in the midst of a
+wooded spot, and stood rooted to the earth with fear and amazement; at
+which, indeed, we were not much surprised, for as he had probably never
+seen white faces before, he must have naturally taken us for ghosts or
+phantoms of some sort.
+
+He was armed with shield and spear, but his frame was paralysed with
+terror.  He seemed to have no power to use his weapons.  At first we
+also stood in silent wonder, and returned his stare with interest; but
+after a few seconds the comicality of the man's appearance tickled
+Peterkin so much that he burst into a fit of laughter, which had the
+effect of increasing the terror of the black warrior to such a degree
+that his teeth began to chatter in his head.  He actually grew livid in
+the face.  I never beheld a more ghastly countenance.
+
+"I say, Ralph," observed my companion, after recovering his composure,
+"we must try to show this fellow that we don't mean him any harm, else
+he'll die of sheer fright."
+
+Before I could reply, or any steps could be taken towards this end, his
+party came up, and we suddenly found ourselves face to face with at
+least a hundred men, all of whom were armed with spears or bows and
+arrows.  Behind them came a large troop of women and children.  They
+were all nearly naked, and I observed that they were blacker in the skin
+than most of the negroes we had yet met with.
+
+"Here's a pretty mess," said Peterkin, looking at me.
+
+"What is to be done?" said I.
+
+"If we were to fire at them, I'd lay a bet they'd run away like the
+wind," replied my comrade; "but I can't bear to think of shedding human
+blood if it can possibly be avoided."
+
+While we spoke, the negroes, who stood about fifty yards distant from
+us, were consulting with each other in eager voices, but never for a
+moment taking their eyes off us.
+
+"What say you to fire over their heads?"  I suggested.
+
+"Ready, present, then," cried Peterkin, with a recklessness of manner
+that surprised me.
+
+We threw forward our rifles, and discharged them simultaneously.
+
+The effect was tremendous.  The whole band--men, women, and children--
+uttered an overwhelming shriek, and turning round, fled in mad confusion
+from the spot.  Some of the warriors turned, however, ere they had gone
+far, and sent a shower of spears at us, one of which went close past my
+cheek.
+
+"We have acted rashly, I fear," said I, as we each sought shelter behind
+a tree.
+
+No doubt the savages construed this act of ours into an admission that
+we did not consider ourselves invulnerable, and plucked up courage
+accordingly, for they began again to advance towards us, though with
+hesitation.  I now saw that we should be compelled to fight for our
+lives, and deeply regretted my folly in advising Peterkin to fire over
+their heads; but happily, before blood was drawn on either side,
+Makarooroo and Jack came running towards us.  The former shouted an
+explanation of who and what we were to our late enemies, and in less
+than ten minutes we were mingling together in the most amicable manner.
+
+We found that these poor creatures were starving, having failed to
+procure any provisions for some time past, and they were then on their
+way to another region in search of game.  We gave them as much of our
+provisions as we could spare, besides a little tobacco, which afforded
+them inexpressible delight.  Then rubbing noses with the chief, we
+parted and went on our respective ways.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+HOW WE MET WITH OUR FIRST GORILLA, AND HOW WE SERVED HIM.
+
+"It never rains but it pours," is a true proverb.  I have often noticed,
+in the course of my observations on sublunary affairs, that events
+seldom come singly.  I have often gone out fishing for trout in the
+rivers of my native land, day after day, and caught nothing, while at
+other times I have, day after day, returned home with my basket full.
+
+As it was in England, so I found it in Africa.  For many days after our
+arrival in the gorilla country, we wandered about without seeing a
+single creature of any kind.  Lions, we ascertained, were never found in
+those regions, and we were told that this was in consequence of their
+having been beaten off the field by gorillas.  But at last, after we had
+all, severally and collectively, given way to despair, we came upon the
+tracks of a gorilla, and from that hour we were kept constantly on the
+_qui vive_, and in the course of the few weeks we spent in that part of
+the country, we "bagged," as Peterkin expressed it, "no end of
+gorillas"--great and small, young and old.
+
+I will never forget the powerful sensations of excitement and anxiety
+that filled our breasts when we came on the first gorilla footprint.  We
+felt as no doubt Robinson Crusoe did when he discovered the footprint of
+a savage in the sand.  Here at last was the indubitable evidence of the
+existence and presence of the terrible animal we had come so far to see.
+Here was the footstep of that creature about which we had heard so many
+wonderful stories, whose existence the civilised world had, up to within
+a very short time back, doubted exceedingly, and in regard to which,
+even now, we knew comparatively very little.
+
+Makarooroo assured us that he had hunted this animal some years ago, and
+had seen one or two at a distance, though he had never killed one, and
+stated most emphatically that the footprint before us, which happened to
+be in a soft sandy spot, was undoubtedly caused by the foot of a
+gorilla.
+
+Being satisfied on this head, we four sat down in a circle round the
+footprint to examine it, while our men stood round about us, looking on
+with deep interest expressed in their dark faces.
+
+"At last!" said I, carefully brushing away some twigs that partly
+covered the impression.
+
+"Ay, at last!" echoed Jack, while his eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
+
+"Ay," observed Peterkin, "and a pretty big _last_ he must require, too.
+I shouldn't like to be his shoemaker.  What a thumb, or a toe.  One
+doesn't know very well which to call it."
+
+"I wonder if it's old?" said I.
+
+"As old as the hills," replied Peterkin; "at least 50 I would judge from
+its size."
+
+"You mistake me.  I mean that I wonder whether the footprint is old, or
+if it has been made recently."
+
+"Him's quite noo," interposed our guide.
+
+"How d'ye know, Mak?"
+
+"'Cause me see."
+
+"Ay; but what do you see that enables you to form such an opinion?"
+
+"O Ralph, how can you expect a nigger to understand such a sentence as
+that?" said Jack, as he turned to Mak and added, "What do you see?"
+
+"Me see one leetle stick brok in middel.  If you look to him you see him
+white and clean.  If hims was old, hims would be mark wid rain and
+dirt."
+
+"There!" cried Peterkin, giving me a poke in the side, "see what it is
+to be a minute student of the small things in nature.  Make a note of
+it, Ralph."
+
+I did make a note of it mentally on the spot, and then proposed that we
+should go in search of the gorilla without further delay.
+
+We were in the midst of a dark gloomy wood in the neighbourhood of a
+range of mountains whose blue serrated peaks rose up into the clouds.
+Their sides were partly clothed with wood.  We were travelling--not
+hunting--at the time we fell in with the track above referred to, so we
+immediately ordered the men to encamp where they were, while we should
+go after the gorilla, accompanied only by Mak, whose nerves we could
+depend on.
+
+Shouldering our trusty rifles, and buckling tight the belts of our heavy
+hunting-knives, we sallied forth after the manner of American Indians,
+in single file, keeping, as may well be supposed, a sharp lookout as we
+went along.  The fact was that long delay, frequent disappointment, and
+now the near prospect of success, conspired together to fill us with a
+species of nervous excitement that caused us to start at every sound.
+
+The woods here were pretty thick, but they varied in their character so
+frequently that we were at one time pushing slowly among dense, almost
+impenetrable underwood, at another walking briskly over small plains
+which were covered in many places with large boulders.  It was
+altogether a gloomy, savage-looking country, and seemed to me well
+suited to be the home of so dreadful an animal.  There were few animals
+to be seen here.  Even birds were scarce, and a few chattering monkeys
+were almost the only creatures that broke the monotonous silence and
+solitude around us.
+
+"What a dismal place!" said Peterkin, in a low tone.  "I feel as if we
+had got to the fag-end of the world, as if we were about plunging into
+ancient chaos."
+
+"It is, indeed," I replied, "a most dreary region.  I think that the
+gorillas will not be disturbed by many hunters with white faces."
+
+"There's no saying," interposed Jack.  "I should not wonder, now, if
+you, Ralph, were to go home and write a book detailing our adventures in
+these parts, that at least half the sportsmen of England would be in
+Africa next year, and the race of gorillas would probably become
+extinct."
+
+"If the sportsmen don't come out until I write a book about them, I fear
+the gorillas will remain undisturbed for all time to come."
+
+At that time, reader, I was not aware of the extreme difficulty that
+travellers experience in resisting the urgent entreaties of admiring and
+too partial friends!
+
+Presently we came to a part of the forest where the underwood became so
+dense that we could scarcely make our way through it at all, and here we
+began for the first time to have some clearer conception of the immense
+power of the creature we were in pursuit of; for in order to clear its
+way it had torn down great branches of the trees, and in one or two
+places had seized young trees as thick as a man's arm, and snapped them
+in two as one would snap a walking-cane.
+
+Following the track with the utmost care for several miles, we at length
+came to a place where several huge rocks lay among the trees.  Here,
+while we were walking along in silence, Makarooroo made a peculiar noise
+with his tongue, which we knew meant that he had discovered something
+worthy of special attention, so we came to an abrupt pause and looked at
+him.
+
+"What is it, Mak?" inquired Jack.
+
+The guide put his finger on his mouth to impose silence, and stood in a
+listening attitude with his eyes cast upon the ground, his nostrils
+distended, and every muscle of his dusky frame rigid, as if he were a
+statue of black marble.  We also listened attentively, and presently
+heard a sound as of the breaking of twigs and branches.
+
+"Dat am be gorilla," said the guide, in a low whisper.
+
+We exchanged looks of eager satisfaction.
+
+"How shall we proceed, Mak?" inquired Jack.
+
+"We mus' go bery slow, dis way," said the guide, imitating the process
+of walking with extreme caution.  "No break leetle stick.  If you break
+leetle stick hims go right away."
+
+Promising Mak that we would attend to his injunctions most carefully, we
+desired him to lead the way, and in a few minutes after came so near to
+where the sound of breaking sticks was going on that we all halted,
+fearing that we should scare the animal away before we could get a sight
+of it amongst the dense underwood.
+
+"What can he be doing?" said I to the guide, as we stood looking at each
+other for a few seconds uncertain how to act.
+
+"Him's breakin' down branches for git at him's feed, s'pose."
+
+"Do you see that?" whispered Peterkin, as he pointed to an open space
+among the bushes.  "Isn't that a bit o' the hairy brute?"
+
+"It looks like it," replied Jack eagerly.
+
+"Cluck!" ejaculated Makarooroo, making a peculiar noise with his tongue.
+"Dat him.  Blaze away!"
+
+"But it may not be a mortal part," objected Peterkin.  "He might escape
+if only wounded."
+
+"Nebber fear.  Hims come at us if hims be wound.  Only we mus' be ready
+for him."
+
+"All ready," said Jack, cocking both barrels of his rifle.--"Now,
+Peterkin, a good aim.  If he comes here he shall get a quietus."
+
+All this was said in the lowest possible whispers.  Peterkin took a
+steady aim at the part of the creature that was visible, and fired.
+
+I have gone through many wild adventures since then.  I have heard the
+roar of the lion and the tiger in all circumstances, and the laugh of
+the hyena, besides many other hideous sounds, but I never in all my life
+listened to anything that in any degree approached in thundering
+ferocity the appalling roar that burst upon our ears immediately after
+that shot was fired.  I can compare it to nothing, for nothing I ever
+heard was like it.  If the reader can conceive a human fiend endued with
+a voice far louder than that of the lion, yet retaining a little of the
+intonation both of the man's voice and of what we should suppose a
+fiend's voice to be, he may form some slight idea of what that roar was.
+It is impossible to describe it.  Perhaps Mak's expression in regard to
+it is the most emphatic and truthful: it was absolutely "_horriboble_!"
+Every one has heard a sturdy, well-grown little boy, when being
+thrashed, howling at the very top of his bent.  If one can conceive of a
+full-grown male giant twenty feet high pouring forth his whole soul and
+voice with similarly unrestrained fervour, he may approximate to a
+notion of it.
+
+And it was not uttered once or twice, but again and again, until the
+whole woods trembled with it, and we felt as if our ears could not
+endure more of it without the tympanums being burst.
+
+For several moments we stood motionless with our guns ready, expecting
+an immediate attack, and gazing with awe, not unmingled--at least on my
+part--with fear, at the turmoil of leaves and twigs and broken branches
+that was going on round the spot where the monster had been wounded.
+
+"Come," cried Jack at length, losing patience and springing forward; "if
+he won't attack us we must attack him."
+
+We followed close on his heels, and next moment emerged upon a small and
+comparatively open space, in the midst of which we found the gorilla
+seated on the ground, tearing up the earth with its hands, grinning
+horribly and beating its chest, which sent forth a loud hollow sound as
+if it were a large drum.  We saw at once that both its thighs had been
+broken by Peterkin's shot.
+
+Of all the hideous creatures I had ever seen or heard of, none came up
+in the least degree to this.  Apart altogether from its gigantic size,
+this monster was calculated to strike terror into the hearts of
+beholders simply by the expression of its visage, which was quite
+satanic.  I could scarcely persuade myself that I was awake.  It seemed
+as if I were gazing on one of those hideous creatures one beholds when
+oppressed with nightmare.
+
+But we had little time to indulge in contemplation, for the instant the
+brute beheld us it renewed its terrible roar, and attempted to spring
+up; but both its legs at once gave way, and it fell with a passionate
+growl, biting the earth, and twisting and tearing bunches of twigs and
+leaves in its fury.  Suddenly it rushed upon us rapidly by means of its
+fore legs or arms.
+
+"Look out, Jack!" we cried in alarm.
+
+Jack stood like a rock and deliberately levelled his rifle.  Even at
+this moment of intense excitement I could not help marvelling at the
+diminutive appearance of my friend when contrasted with the gorilla.  In
+height, indeed, he was of course superior, and would have been so had
+the gorilla been able to stand erect, but his breadth of shoulder and
+chest, and his length and size of arm, were strikingly inferior.  Just
+as the monster approached to within three yards of him, Jack sent a ball
+into its chest, and the king of the African woods fell dead at our feet!
+
+It is impossible to convey in words an idea of the gush of mingled
+feelings that filled our breasts as we stood beside and gazed at the
+huge carcass of our victim.  Pity at first predominated in my heart,
+then I felt like an accomplice to a murder, and then an exulting
+sensation of joy at having obtained a specimen of one of the rarest
+animals in the world overwhelmed every other feeling.
+
+The size of this animal--and we measured him very carefully--was as
+follows:--
+
+Height, 5 feet 6 inches; girth of the chest, 4 feet 2 inches; spread of
+its arms, 7 feet 2 inches.  Perhaps the most extraordinary measurement
+was that of the great thumb of its hind foot, which was 5 and a half
+inches in circumference.  When I looked at this and at the great bunches
+of hard muscles which composed its brawny chest and arms, I could almost
+believe in the stories told by the natives of the tremendous feats of
+strength performed by the gorilla.  The body of this brute was covered
+with grey hair, but the chest was bare and covered with tough skin, and
+its face was intensely black.  I shuddered as I looked upon it, for
+there was something terribly human-like about it, despite the
+brutishness of its aspect.
+
+"Now, I'll tell you what we shall do," said Jack, after we had completed
+our examination of the gorilla.  "We will encamp where we are for the
+night, and send Makarooroo back to bring our fellows up with the packs,
+so that you, Ralph, will be able to begin the work of skinning and
+cleaning the bones at once.  What say you?"
+
+"Agreed, with all my heart," I replied.
+
+"Well, then," observed Peterkin, "here goes for a fire, to begin with,
+and then for victuals to continue with.  By the way, what say you to a
+gorilla steak?  I'm told the niggers eat him.--Don't they, Mak?"
+
+"Yis, massa, dey does.  More dan dat, de niggers in dis part ob country
+eat mans."
+
+"Eat mans!" echoed Peterkin in horror.
+
+"Yis, eat mans, and womins, an' childerdens."
+
+"Oh, the brutes!  But I don't believe you, Mak.  What are the villains
+called?"
+
+"Well, it not be easy for say what dem be called.  Miss'naries calls dem
+canibobbles."
+
+"Ho!" shouted Peterkin, "canibobbles? eh! well done.  Mak, I must get
+you to write a new dictionary; I think it would pay!"
+
+"It won't pay to go on talking like this, though," observed Jack.
+"Come, hand me the axe.  I'll fell this tree while you strike a light,
+Peterkin.--Be off with you, Mak.--As for Ralph, we must leave him to his
+note-book; I see there is no chance of getting him away from his beloved
+gorilla till he has torn its skin from its flesh, and its flesh from its
+bones."
+
+Jack was right.  I had now several long hours' work before me, which I
+knew could not be delayed, and to which I applied myself forthwith most
+eagerly, while my comrades lit the fire and prepared the camp, and
+Makarooroo set off on his return journey to bring up the remainder of
+our party.
+
+That night, while I sat by the light of the camp-fire toiling at my
+task, long after the others had retired to rest, I observed the features
+of Jack and Peterkin working convulsively, and their hands clutching
+nervously as they slept, and I smiled to think of the battles with
+gorillas which I felt assured they must be fighting, and the enormous
+"bags" they would be certain to tell of on returning from the realms of
+dreamland to the regions of reality.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE.
+
+PETERKIN'S SCHOOLDAY REMINISCENCES.
+
+The day following that on which we shot our first gorilla was a great
+and memorable day in our hunting career in Africa, for on that day we
+saw no fewer than ten gorillas: two females, seven young ones--one of
+which was a mere baby gorilla in its mother's arms--and a huge lone
+male, or bachelor gorilla, as Peterkin called him.  And of these we
+killed four--three young ones, and the old bachelor.  I am happy to add
+that I saved the lives of the infant gorilla and its mother, as I shall
+presently relate.
+
+The portion of country through which we travelled this day was not so
+thickly wooded as that through which we had passed the day before, so
+that we advanced more easily, and enjoyed ourselves much as we went
+along.  About the middle of the day we came to a spot where there were a
+number of wild vines, the leaves of which are much liked by the gorilla,
+so we kept a sharp lookout for tracks.
+
+Soon we came upon several, as well as broken branches and twigs, in
+which were observed the marks of teeth, showing that our game had been
+there.  But we passed from the wood where these signs were discovered,
+out upon an open plain of considerable extent.  Here we paused,
+undecided as to whether we should proceed onward or remain there to
+hunt.
+
+"I vote for advancing," said Peterkin, "for I observe that on the other
+side of this plain the wood seems very dense, and it is probable that we
+may find Mister Gorilla there.--What think you, Mak?"
+
+The guide nodded in reply.
+
+"I move," said Jack, "that as the country just where we stand is well
+watered by this little brook, besides being picturesque and beautiful to
+look upon, we should encamp where we are, and leaving our men to guard
+the camp, cross this plain--we three take Mak along with us, and spend
+the remainder of the day in hunting."
+
+"I vote for the amendment," said I.
+
+"Then the amendment carries," cried Jack, "for in all civilised
+societies most votes always carry; and although we happen to be in an
+uncivilised region of the earth, we must not forget that we are
+civilised hunters.  The vote of two hunters ought certainly to override
+that of one hunter."
+
+Peterkin demurred to this at once, on the ground that it was unfair.
+
+"How so?" said I.
+
+"In the first place," replied he, looking uncommonly wise, and placing
+the point of his right finger in the palm of his left hand--"in the
+first place, I do not admit your premises, and therefore I object to
+your conclusion.  I do not admit that in civilised societies most votes
+carry; on the contrary, it too frequently happens that, in civilised
+societies, motions are made, seconded, discussed, and carried without
+being put to the vote at all; often they are carried without being made,
+seconded, or discussed--as when a bottle-nosed old gentleman in office
+chooses to ignore the rights of men, and carry everything his own way.
+Neither do I admit that we three are civilised hunters; for although it
+is true that I am, it is well-known that you, Ralph, are a philosopher,
+and Jack is a gorilla.  Therefore I object to your conclusion that your
+two votes should carry; for you cannot but admit that the vote of one
+hunter ought to override that of two such creatures, which would not be
+the case were there an equality existing between us."
+
+"Peterkin," said I, "there is fallacy in your reasoning."
+
+"Can you show it?" said he.
+
+"No; the web is too much ravelled to disentangle."
+
+"Not at all," cried Jack; "I can unravel it in a minute, and settle the
+whole question by proving that there does exist an equality between us;
+for it is well-known, and generally admitted by all his friends, and
+must be acknowledged by himself, that Peterkin is an ass."
+
+"Even admitting that," rejoined Peterkin, "it still remains to be proved
+that a philosopher, a gorilla, and an ass are equal.  Of course I
+believe the latter to be superior to both the former animals; but in
+consideration of the lateness of the hour, and the able manner in which
+you have discussed this subject, I beg to withdraw my motion, and to
+state that I am ready to accompany you over the plain as soon as you
+please."
+
+At this point our conversation was interrupted by the shriek of a small
+monkey, which had been sitting all the time among the branches of the
+tree beneath which we stood.
+
+"I declare it has been listening to us," cried Peterkin.
+
+"Yes, and is shouting in triumph at your defeat," added Jack.
+
+As he spoke, Makarooroo fired, and the monkey fell to the ground almost
+at our feet.
+
+"Alas! it has paid a heavy price for its laugh," said Peterkin, in a
+tone of sadness.
+
+The poor thing was mortally wounded; so much so that it could not even
+cry.  It looked up with a very piteous expression in our faces.  Placing
+its hand on its side, it coughed once or twice, then lying down on its
+back and stretching itself out quite straight, it closed its eyes and
+died.
+
+I never could bear to shoot monkeys.  There was something so terribly
+human-like in their sufferings, that I never could witness the death of
+one without feeling an almost irresistible inclination to weep.
+Sometimes, when short of provisions, I was compelled to shoot monkeys,
+but I did so as seldom as possible, and once I resolved to go supperless
+to bed rather than shoot one whose aspect was so sad and gentle that I
+had not the heart to kill it.  My companions felt as I did in this
+matter, and we endeavoured to restrain Makarooroo as much as possible;
+but he could not understand our feelings, and when he got a chance of a
+shot, almost invariably forgot our injunctions to let monkeys alone
+unless we were absolutely ill off for food.  To do him justice, however,
+I must add that we were at this particular time not overburdened with
+provisions, and the men were much pleased to have the prospect of a
+roast monkey for supper.
+
+Having given our men a little tobacco, a gift which caused their black
+faces to beam with delight, we shouldered our rifles and set off across
+the plain towards the thick wood, which was not more than five miles
+distant, if so much.
+
+It was a beautiful scene, this plain with its clumps of trees scattered
+over it like islands in a lake, and its profusion of wild flowers.  The
+weather, too, was delightful--cooler than usual--and there was a
+freshness in the air which caused us to feel light of heart, while the
+comparative shortness of the grass enabled us to proceed on our way with
+light steps.  As we walked along for some time in silence, I thought
+upon the goodness and the provident care of the Creator of our world;
+for during my brief sojourn in Africa I had observed many instances of
+the wonderful exactness with which things in nature were suited to the
+circumstances in which they were placed, and the bountiful provision
+that was made everywhere for man and beast.  Yet I must confess I could
+not help wondering, and felt very much perplexed, when I thought of the
+beautiful scenes in the midst of which I moved being inhabited only by
+savage men, who seemed scarcely to appreciate the blessings by which
+they were surrounded, and who violated constantly all the laws of Him by
+whom they were created.  My meditations were interrupted by Jack
+saying--
+
+"I cannot help wondering why that poor monkey kept so still all the time
+we were talking.  One would think that it should have been frightened
+away just as we came under the tree."
+
+"I have no doubt," said I, "that although of course it could not
+understand what we said, yet it was listening to us."
+
+"I'm not so certain that it did not understand," observed Peterkin.
+"You know that sailors believe that monkeys could speak if they chose,
+but they don't for fear that they should be made to work!"
+
+"Well, whatever truth there may be in that, of this I am certain, they
+are the most deceptive creatures that exist."
+
+"I don't agree with you," rejoined Peterkin.  "It's my opinion that
+little boys are the greatest deceivers living."
+
+"What! _all_ little boys!" exclaimed Jack.
+
+"No, not all.  I have not so bad an opinion of the race as that.  I've
+had a good deal to do with boys during my naval career, and among the
+middies of her Majesty's navy I have met with as fine little chaps as
+one would wish to see--regular bricks, afraid of nothing (except of
+doing anything that would be thought sneaking or shabby), ready to dare
+anything--to attack a seventy-four single-handed in a punt or a bumboat
+if need be; nevertheless, I've met boys, and a good many of them too,
+who would beat all the monkeys in Africa at sneaking and deceiving.  I
+remember one rascal, who went to the same school with me, who was a
+wonderfully plausible deceiver.  I can't help laughing yet when I think
+of the curious way he took to free himself of the restraint of school."
+
+"How was it?" cried Jack; "tell us about it--do."
+
+"Well, you must know," began Peterkin, "that this boy was what Jack tars
+would call a `great, stupid, lubberly fellow.'  He was a very
+fair-haired, white eyelashed sort of chap, that seemed to grow at such a
+rate that he was always too big for his clothes, and showed an unusual
+amount of wrist and ankle even for a boy.  Most people who met him
+thought him a very stupid boy at first; but those who came to know him
+well found that he was rather a sharp, clever fellow, but a remarkably
+shy dog.  We called him Doddle.
+
+"His mother was a widow, and he was an only son, and had been spoiled,
+of course, so that he was not put to school till he was nearly twelve
+years of age.  He had been at several schools before coming to ours, but
+had been deemed by each successive schoolmaster a hopeless imbecile.
+And he was so mischievous that they advised his poor mother to take him
+away and try if she could not instil a little knowledge into him
+herself.  The old lady was a meek, simple body, and quite as stupid as
+her hopeful son appeared to be.  Hearing that our master was a sharp
+fellow, and somewhat noted as a good manager of obstreperous boys, she
+brought him to our school as a last resource, and having introduced him
+to the master, went her way.
+
+"It was near the end of play-hour when she brought him, so he was turned
+out into the playground, and stood there looking like a mongrel cur
+turned unexpectedly into a kennel of pointers.
+
+"`Well, Doddle,' said one of the sixth-form boys, going up to him and
+addressing him for the first time by the name which stuck to him ever
+after, `where did _you_ grow; and who cut you down and tossed you in
+here?'
+
+"`Eh?' said Doddle, looking sheepish.
+
+"`What's your name, man, and where did you come from, and how old are
+you, and how far can you jump without a race? and in fact I want to know
+all about you.'
+
+"`My name's Tommy Thompson,' replied the boy, `and I--'
+
+"At that moment the bell rang, and the remainder of his sentence was
+drowned in the rush of the rest of us to the classroom.
+
+"When all was quiet the master called Doddle up, and said, `Well,
+Thompson, my boy, your mother tells me you have learned a little grammar
+and a little arithmetic.  I hope that we shall instil into you a good
+deal of those branches of learning, and of many others besides, ere
+long.  Let me hear what you can do.'
+
+"`I can play hockey and dumps,' began Doddle, in a sing-song tone, and
+with the most uncommonly innocent expression of visage; `an' I can--'
+
+"`Stay, boy,' interrupted the master, smiling; `I do not want to know
+what you can _play_ at.  Keep silence until I put a few questions to
+you.  What is English grammar?'
+
+"`Eh?'
+
+"`Don't say "Eh!"  When you fail to understand me, say "Sir?"
+interrogatively.  What is English grammar?'
+
+"`It's a book.'
+
+"The master looked over the top of his spectacles at Doddle in surprise.
+
+"`English grammar,' said he, slowly, and with a slight touch of
+sternness, `is indeed contained in a book; but I wish to know what it
+teaches.'
+
+"`Eh?--a--I mean sir interrogatively.'
+
+"`What does English grammar _teach_, boy?' cried the master angrily.
+
+"Doddle laid hold of his chin with his right hand, and looked down at
+the floor with an air of profound thought, saying slowly, in an
+undertone to himself, `What--does--English--grammar--teach--teach--
+grammar--teach?  It--teaches--a--I don't know _what_ it teaches.
+Perhaps you can tell me, sir?'
+
+"He looked up, and uttered the last sentence with such an air of blank
+humility that we all had to cram our pocket handkerchiefs into our
+mouths to prevent a universal explosion.  The master looked over his
+spectacles again at Doddle with an expression of unutterable amazement.
+We looked on with breathless interest, not unmingled with awe, for we
+expected some awful outbreak on the part of the master, who seemed quite
+unable to make up his mind what to do or say, but continued to stare for
+nearly a minute at the boy, who replied to the stare with a humble,
+idiotic smile.
+
+"Suddenly the master said sharply, `How much are seven times nine?'
+
+"`Five hundred and forty-two and a half,' answered Doddle, without a
+moment's hesitation.
+
+"The master did not look surprised this time, but he took Doddle by the
+shoulder, and drawing him towards his chair, looked earnestly into his
+face.  Then he said quietly, `That will do, Thompson; go to your seat.'
+
+"This was all that occurred at that time.  During a whole week the
+master tried by every means to get Doddle to learn something; but Doddle
+could learn nothing.  Yet he seemed to try.  He pored over his book, and
+muttered with his lips, and sometimes looked anxiously up at the
+ceiling, with an expression of agony on his face that seemed to indicate
+a tremendous mental effort.  Every species of inducement was tried, and
+occasionally punishment was resorted to.  He was kept in at play-hours,
+and put in a corner during school-hours; and once, the master having
+lost patience with him, he was flogged.  But it was all one to Doddle.
+All the methods tried proved utterly unavailing.  He could not be got to
+acquire a single lesson, and often gave such remarkable answers that we
+all believed him to be mad.
+
+"On the Monday forenoon of his second week at the school, the master
+called him up again for examination.
+
+"`Now, Thompson,' he began, `you have been a long time over that lesson;
+let us see how much of it you have learned.  What is etymology?'
+
+"`Etymology,' answered Doddle, `is--is--an irregular pronoun.'
+
+"`Boy!' cried the master sternly.
+
+"`Please, sir,' pleaded Doddle, with deprecatory air, `I--I suppose I
+was thinkin' o' one o' the _other_ mologies, not the etty one.'
+
+"`Ha!' ejaculated the master; `well, tell me, how many parts of speech
+are there?'
+
+"`Nineteen,' answered the boy, quite confidently.
+
+"`Oh!' exclaimed the master, with a good deal of sarcasm in his tone;
+`pray, name them.'
+
+"In a very sing-song voice, and with an air of anxious simplicity,
+Doddle began, `Article, noun, adjective, pronoun, verb, adverb,
+preposition, conjunction, interjection, outerjection, beginning with
+_ies_ in the plural--as, baby, babies; lady, ladies; hady, hadies.
+Please, sir, isn't that last one a _bad_ word?'
+
+"`The boy is a lunatic!' muttered the master.
+
+"The boys in the class were far past laughing now; we were absolutely
+stunned.  The master seemed perplexed, for Doddle was gazing at him with
+a look of mild self-satisfaction.
+
+"`I say, Peterkin,' whispered the boy next to me, `as sure as you're
+alive that boy's shamming stupid.'
+
+"Presently the master, who had been turning over the leaves of the
+grammar in a way that showed he was not conscious of what he was about,
+looked up, and said abruptly, `What is a proper noun?'
+
+"`A well-behaved one,' replied Doddle.
+
+"At this the whole school tittered violently.
+
+"`Silence, boys,' cried the master, in a tone that produced the desired
+effect so thoroughly that you might have heard a pin drop.  Then laying
+his hand on Doddle's shoulder, he looked him full in the face, and said
+solemnly, `Thompson, _I have found you out_.  Go, sir, to your seat, and
+remain behind when the other boys go to the playground.'
+
+"We observed that Doddle grew very red in the face as he came back to
+his seat, and during the rest of the hour he never once looked up.
+
+"During the whole of the play-hour the master and he remained shut up
+together in the schoolroom.  We never discovered what took place there
+between them, for neither threats nor coaxing could induce Doddle
+afterwards to speak on the subject; but from that day forward he was a
+changed boy.  He not only learned his lessons, but he learned them well,
+and in the course of time became one of the best scholars in the school;
+so that although he never would admit it, we all came to the conclusion
+he had been shamming stupid--attempting to deceive the master into the
+belief that he was incurable, and thus manage to get rid of lessons and
+school altogether."
+
+"A most remarkable boy," observed Jack when Peterkin concluded.
+"Certainly he beat the monkeys hollow."
+
+"I wonder," said I, "what the master said or did to him that wrought
+such a mighty change."
+
+"Don't know," replied Peterkin; "I suppose he told him that now he had
+found him out, he would flay him alive if he didn't give in, or
+something of that sort."
+
+We had now entered the dark forest that edged the plain over which we
+had been walking, and further conversation on this subject was stopped,
+and the subject itself banished utterly from our minds by the loud,
+startling cry of a gorilla at no great distance from us.
+
+"Hist! that's him," whispered Peterkin.
+
+Instantly throwing our rifles into a position of readiness we pushed
+rapidly through the underwood in the direction whence the cry had come.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
+
+WE GET INTO "THE THICK OF IT"--GREAT SUCCESS.
+
+In a few minutes we came upon a female gorilla, which, all unconscious
+of our approach, was sitting at the foot of a vine, eating the leaves.
+There were four young ones beside her, engaged in the same occupation.
+In order to approach within shot of these, we had to creep on all fours
+through the brushwood with the greatest caution; for gorillas are
+sharp-sighted, and they have a remarkably acute sense of hearing, so
+that sometimes the breaking of a dry twig under one's foot is sufficient
+to alarm them.
+
+We did not venture to speak even in whispers as we advanced; but by a
+sign Jack told Peterkin to take the lead.  Jack himself followed.
+Makarooroo went next, and I brought up the rear.
+
+In all our hunting expeditions we usually maintained this arrangement,
+where it was necessary.  Peterkin was assigned the post of honour,
+because he was the best shot; Jack, being next best, came second; and I
+came last, not because our guide was a better shot than I, but because
+he was apt to get excited and to act rashly, so that he required looking
+after.  I was at all times ready to lay hold of him by the hair of his
+woolly head, which, as he was nearly naked, was the only part of him
+that one could grasp with any degree of firmness.
+
+After creeping in this manner for some distance, we got within range.
+Peterkin and Jack took aim and fired together.  The old gorilla and one
+of the young ones fell instantly, and from their not struggling it was
+evident that they were shot quite dead.  The guide and I fired
+immediately after, but only the one that I fired at fell.  The other two
+ran off as fast as they could.  Sometimes they ran on all fours; and I
+observed that while running in this fashion the hind legs passed between
+the arms, or, as it were, overstepped them.  Occasionally, however, they
+rose and ran on their hind legs, in a stooping position.
+
+When they did this I was particularly struck with their grotesque yet
+strong resemblance to man, and I do not think that I could at that time
+have prevailed upon myself to fire at them.  I should have felt like a
+murderer.  In truth, my thoughts and sensations just then were anything
+but agreeable.  Nevertheless I was so excited by the chase that I am
+quite certain no one, to look at me, could have guessed what was passing
+in my mind.
+
+We ran as rapidly as was possible in such a tangled forest, but we had
+no chance with the young gorillas.  Peterkin at last ran himself out of
+breath.  Stopping suddenly, he said, pantingly--
+
+"It's--o'--no use whatever.  Ho! dear me, my bellows are about
+exploded."
+
+"We've no chance in a race with these hairy men," responded Jack, as he
+wiped the perspiration from his forehead.--"Why did you miss, Mak?"
+
+"'Cause me no could hit, s'pose, massa."
+
+"Very justly and modestly said," remarked Peterkin, with an approving
+nod.  "'Tis a pity that men are not more generally animated with your
+spirit, Mak.  Most people, when they do wrong or make a mistake, are too
+apt to try to excuse themselves."
+
+"Yes," I added, with a laugh; "particularly when they blow the tails out
+of ostriches."
+
+Peterkin shook his head, and said solemnly, "Ralph, my boy, don't take
+to joking.  It don't agree with your constitution.  You'll get ill if
+you do; and we can't afford to have you laid up on our hands in these
+out-o'-the-way regions."
+
+"Come, now, let us back to the gorillas and secure them, lest their
+comrades carry them away," said Jack, turning to retrace our steps.
+
+I was anxious to shoot as many gorillas as possible, in order that I
+might study the peculiarities of, and differences existing between, the
+different species--if there should be such--and between various
+individuals of the same species in all stages of development.  I had
+made an elaborate examination of our first gorilla, and had taken
+copious notes in regard to it.  Being desirous of doing the same as far
+as possible with the female and the two young ones we had just killed, I
+hastened back with my companions, and we fastened them securely among
+the branches of a conspicuous tree, intending to send out some of our
+men for them on our return to camp.
+
+After this we resumed our search for more, but wandered about for
+several hours without meeting with any, although we observed
+recently-made footprints in abundance.  We went as nearly as possible in
+a direction parallel to our camp, so that although we walked far we did
+not increase our distance from it to any great extent.
+
+Presently Makarooroo made a peculiar "cluck" with his tongue, and we all
+came to an abrupt stand.
+
+"What is't, Mak?"
+
+The negro did not speak, but pointed eagerly in front of him, while the
+whites of his eyes seemed to sparkle with animation, and raised his gun
+to shoot.
+
+We came up at the moment, and through an opening in the bushes saw what
+he was about to fire at.  It was a female gorilla, with a baby gorilla
+in her arms.  Fierce and hairy though she was, there was a certain air
+of tenderness about this mother, as she stroked and pawed her little
+one, that went straight to my heart, and caused me almost involuntarily
+to raise my arm and strike up the muzzle of Makarooroo's gun, at the
+moment he pulled the trigger.  The consequence of this act was that the
+ball passed close over their heads.  The report of the piece was
+instantly followed by a roar of consternation, mingled with rage, from
+the mother, and a shriek of terror from the baby, which again was
+immediately followed by a burst of laughter from us, as we beheld the
+little baby clasp its arms tightly round its mother, while she scampered
+wildly away from us.
+
+Mak looked at me in amazement.
+
+"What for you be do dat, massa?"
+
+"To prevent you from committing murder, you rascal," said I, laughing.
+"Have you no feelings of natural pity or tenderness, that you could
+coolly aim at such a loving pair as that?"
+
+The guide seemed a little put out by this remark, and went on reloading
+his gun without making reply.  He had received enough of moral education
+at the mission stations to appreciate to some extent the feelings by
+which I was actuated; yet he had been so long accustomed and so early
+inured to harsh, unfeeling deeds, that the only idea that probably
+occurred to him on seeing this mother and her baby was, how near he
+could get to them in order to make sure of his aim.
+
+"Ah!  Ralph," said Jack, as we resumed our march, "you're too
+tender-hearted, my boy, for a hunter in Africa.  There you've lost a
+chance of getting a gorilla baby, which you have been desiring so much
+the last few days, and which you might have stuck in a bottle of
+spirits, and sent home to be held up to universal admiration in
+Piccadilly, who knows."
+
+"Ay, who knows?" echoed Peterkin.  "I think it more probable, however,
+that it would be held up to universal ridicule.  Besides, you forget
+that we have no spirits to preserve it in, except our own, which I admit
+are pretty high--a good deal overproof, considering the circumstances in
+which we are placed, and the unheard-of trials we have to endure.  I'm
+sure I don't know what ever induced me to come, as a Scotch cousin of
+mine once said, `so far frae my ain fireside' to endure trials.  I do
+believe I've had more trials since I came to this outrageous land than
+all the criminals of the last century in England put together have had."
+
+"Peterkin," said I seriously, "trials are a decided benefit and blessing
+to mankind--"
+
+"Oh, of course," interrupted Peterkin; "but then, as you have often
+retorted upon me that I am of the monkey kind, I think that I could get
+on pretty well without them."
+
+"My opinion is that they are good both for man and monkey," said Jack.
+"Just consider, now: it must have been a terrible trial for yon
+gorilla-mamma to hear a bullet pass within an inch of her head, and have
+her sweet little darling frightened almost out of its wits.  Well, but
+just think of the state of satisfaction and rejoicing that she must be
+in now at having escaped.  Had it not been for that trial she would now
+have been in her ordinary humdrum condition.  I quite agree with Ralph
+that trials are really a blessing to us."
+
+"I declare it is quite refreshing to hear that you `agree' with anybody,
+Jack," rejoined Peterkin, in a tone of sarcasm.--"Perhaps Mr Rover will
+kindly enlarge on this most interesting subject, and give us the benefit
+of his wisdom.--And, Mak, you lump of ebony, do you keep a sharp lookout
+for gorillas in the meantime."
+
+The guide, whose appreciation of fun was very considerable, said, "Yis,
+massa," grinned from ear to ear, in doing which he displayed a double
+row of tremendous white teeth, and pretended to be gazing earnestly
+among the bushes on either side in search of game, as he followed us.
+The moment we began to talk, however, I observed that he came close up
+behind, and listened with all his ears.  If eager expansion indicates
+anything, I may add that he listened with all his eyes too!
+
+"I shall have much pleasure in obliging you, Peterkin," said I, with a
+smile.  "And in the first place--"
+
+"O Ralph, I entreat you," interrupted Peterkin, "do not begin with a
+`_first place_.'  When men begin a discourse with that, however many
+intermediate places they may have to roam about in and enlarge on, they
+never have a place of any kind to terminate in, but go skimming along
+with a couple of dozen `lastlies,' like a stone thrown over the surface
+of a pond, which, after the first two or three big and promising bounds,
+spends itself in an endless succession of twittering ripples, and
+finally sinks, somehow or nohow, into oblivion."
+
+"Ahem!  Shakespeare?" said Jack.
+
+"Not at all," retorted Peterkin.  "If anybody gave utterance to the
+sentiment before, it was Shelley, and he must have been on the sea-shore
+at the time with a crotchet, if not a crab, inside of him.--But pray go
+on, Ralph."
+
+"Well, then, in the _first place_," I repeated with emphasis, whereat
+Peterkin sighed, "trials, when endured in a proper spirit, improve our
+moral nature and strengthen our hearts; the result of which is, that we
+are incited to more vigorous mental, and, by consequence, physical
+exertion, so that our nervous system is strengthened and our muscular
+powers are increased."
+
+"Very well put, indeed," cried Peterkin.  "Now, Ralph, try to forget
+your `secondly,' omit your `thirdly,' throw your `fourthly' to the
+winds, and let your `first place' be your `last place,' and I'll give
+you credit for being a wise and effective speaker."
+
+I gave in to my volatile friend at that time, as I saw that he would not
+allow me to go on, and, to say truth, I thought that I had exhausted my
+subject.  But, after all, Peterkin did not require to be incited either
+to good thoughts or good actions.  With all his exuberant fun and
+jocularity, he was at bottom one of the most earnest and attached
+friends I ever possessed.  I have lived to know that his superficial
+lightness of character overlaid as deeply earnest and sympathetic a
+spirit as ever existed.
+
+While we were thus conversing and wandering through the forest, we again
+came upon the fresh tracks of a gorilla, and from their great size we
+conjectured them to be those of a solitary male.  It is a remarkable
+fact that among several of the lower animals we find specimens of that
+unnatural class of creatures which among men are termed old bachelors!
+Among the gorillas these _solitaires_ are usually very large, remarkably
+fierce, uncommonly ugly, desperately vindictive, and peculiarly
+courageous; so much so that the natives hold them in special dread.  It
+is of these wild men of the woods that their most remarkable and
+incredible stories are related.
+
+"I don't think it's a gorilla at all," said Jack, stooping down to
+examine the footprints, which in that place were not very distinct; "I
+think an elephant or a rhinoceros must have passed this way."
+
+"No, massa, them's not deep 'nuff for dat.  Hims be a gorilla--a bery
+big one, too."
+
+"Don't let us talk then, lest we should scare it," whispered Peterkin.
+"Lead the way, Mak; and mind, when we come close enough, move your great
+carcass out of the way and let me to the front."
+
+"No, no, lad," said Jack.  "Fair play.  It's my turn now."
+
+"So be it, my boy.  But get on."
+
+The tracks led us a considerable distance deeper into the wood, where
+the trees became so thick that only a species of twilight penetrated
+through them.  To add to our discomfort, the light, we knew, would soon
+fail us altogether, as evening was drawing on apace, so we quickened our
+pace to a smart run.
+
+We had not proceeded far when we were brought to a sudden standstill by
+one of those awfully loud and savage roars which we at once recognised
+as being that of a gorilla.  It sounded like what we might term barking
+thunder, and from its intensity we were assured that our conjectures as
+to the creature being a solitary male gorilla were correct.
+
+"Dat him, massas!" cried our guide quickly, at the same time cocking
+both barrels of his rifle.  "Look hout! we no hab go after him no more.
+Him's come to fight us.  Most always doos dot--de big ole gorilla."
+
+We saw from the deeply earnest expression of the negro's countenance
+that he felt himself now to be in a very serious position, which would
+demand all his nerve and coolness.
+
+Again the roar was repeated with terrible loudness and ferocity, and we
+heard something like the beating of a huge bass drum, mingled with the
+cracking of branches, as though some heavy creature were forcing its way
+through the underwood towards us.
+
+We were all much impressed with this beating sound, and, as is often the
+case when men are startled by sounds which they cannot account for, we
+were more filled with the dread of this incomprehensible sound than of
+the gorilla which we knew was approaching us.  We might, indeed, have
+asked an explanation from Makarooroo, but we were all too much excited
+and anxious just then to speak.
+
+We drew together in a group.
+
+Jack, who stood a little in front of us, having claimed the first shot,
+was whispering something about its being a pity there was so little
+light, when his voice was drowned by a repetition of the roar, so
+appalling that we each started, feeling as though it had been uttered
+close to our ears.  Next instant the bushes in front of us were torn
+aside, and the most horrible monster I ever saw, or hope to set eyes on,
+stood before us.
+
+He was evidently one of the largest-sized gorillas.  In the gloom of the
+forest he appeared to us to be above six feet high.  His jet-black
+visage was working with an expression of rage that was fearfully
+satanic.  His eyes glared horribly.  The tuft of hair on the top of his
+head rose and fell with the working of his low wrinkled forehead in a
+manner that peculiarly enhanced the ferocity of his expression.  His
+great hairy body seemed much too large for his misshapen legs, and his
+enormous arms much too long for the body.  It was with the fists at the
+ends of those muscular arms that he beat upon his bulky chest, and
+produced the unaccountable sounds above referred to.  As he stood there
+uttering roar upon roar--apparently with the view of screwing up his
+courage to attack us--displaying his great canine teeth, and advancing
+slowly, step by step, I felt a mingling of powerful emotions such as I
+had never felt before in all my life, and such as cannot by any
+possibility be adequately described.
+
+I felt quite self-possessed, however, and stood beside my comrades with
+my rifle ready and my finger on the trigger.
+
+"Now!" whispered Peterkin.  But Jack did not move.
+
+"Now!" said he again, more anxiously, as the immense brute advanced,
+beating its chest and roaring, to within eight yards of us.  Still Jack
+did not move, and I observed that it was as much as Peterkin could do to
+restrain himself.
+
+As it took the next step, and appeared about to spring, Jack pulled the
+trigger.  The cap alone exploded!  Like a flash of light the other
+trigger was pulled; it also failed! some moisture must have got into the
+nipples in loading.  Almost as quick as thought Jack hurled his piece at
+the brute with a force that seemed to me irresistible.  The butt struck
+it full in the chest, but the rifle was instantly caught in its iron
+gripe.  At that moment Peterkin fired, and the gorilla dropped like a
+stone, uttering a heavy groan as it fell prone with its face to the
+earth--not, however, before it had broken Jack's rifle across, and
+twisted the barrel as if it had been merely a piece of wire!
+
+"That was a narrow escape, Jack," said I seriously, after we had
+recovered from the state of agitation into which this scene had thrown
+us.
+
+"Indeed it was; and thanks to Peterkin's ever-ready rifle that it was an
+escape at all.  What a monstrous brute!"
+
+"Much bigger than the first one," said Peterkin.--"Where is your
+measure, Ralph?  Out with it."
+
+I pulled out my measure, and applying it to the prostrate carcass, found
+that the gorilla we had now shot was five feet eight inches in height,
+and proportionately large round the chest.  It seemed to be a mass of
+sinews and hard muscles, and as I gazed at its massive limbs I could
+well imagine that it had strength sufficient to perform many, at least,
+if not all of the wonderful feats ascribed to it by the natives.
+
+Shortly after the death of the gorilla, night settled down upon the
+scene, so we hurried back towards our camp, where we arrived much
+exhausted, yet greatly elated, by our successful day's sport.
+
+I spent a great part of that night making entries in my note-book, by
+the light of our camp-fires, while my companions slept.  And, truly, I
+enjoyed such quiet hours after days of so great mental and physical
+excitement.  I observed, also, that the negroes enjoyed those seasons
+exceedingly.  They sat round the blaze, talking and laughing, and
+recounting, I have no doubt, their feats of daring by flood and field;
+then, when they began to grow sleepy, they sat there swaying to and fro,
+making an occasional remark, until they became too sleepy even for that,
+when they began to nod and wink and start, and almost fell into the
+fire, so unwilling did they seem to tear themselves away from it, even
+for the distance of the few feet they required to draw back in order to
+enable them to lie down.  At last nature could hold out no longer, and
+one by one they dropped back in their places.
+
+I, too, began to nod at last, and to make entries in my note-book which
+were too disjointed at last to be comprehensible; so I finally resigned
+myself to repose, and to dream, as a matter of course.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
+
+OUR PLANS ARE SUDDENLY ALTERED--WICKED DESIGNS DISCOVERED.
+
+For several weeks after this we wandered about in the woods searching
+for gorillas.  We were very successful, and shot so many that I had the
+satisfaction of making elaborate notes of specimens of nearly all ages
+and kinds.
+
+But an event was looming in the future which we little thought of, and
+which ultimately compelled us to abandon the gorilla country and retrace
+our steps towards the southern part of the continent.
+
+One day we set out, as was our wont, to hunt for gorillas, accompanied
+only by our faithful follower Makarooroo.  It chanced to be a lovely
+day, and the country through which we were passing was exceedingly
+beautiful, so that we found more pleasure at that time in conversing
+together on the beauties of nature and on the wonderful works of
+nature's God than in contemplating our chances of falling in with game.
+
+"It's a splendid country," said Jack, as we walked along under the shade
+of some magnificent ebony trees.  "I wish that it were inhabited by a
+Christian people.  Perhaps this may be the case one of these days, but I
+don't think we shall live to see it."
+
+"There's no saying, Jack," observed Peterkin.  "Does not the Bible speak
+of a `nation being born in a day?'  Of course that must be figurative
+language; nevertheless it must mean something, and I incline to think
+that it means that there shall be a time when men shall flock rapidly,
+and in unusually great numbers, to the Saviour."
+
+"It may be so," observed I, "but I have made up my mind on this point,
+that Christian people are not sufficiently awake to the terrible
+condition of the natives of countries such as this, or to the fact that
+they have much in their power to do for the amelioration of both their
+temporal and spiritual welfare.  I, for one, will, if spared to return
+home, contribute more largely than I have been wont to do to the cause
+of missions."
+
+"Talking of that," said Peterkin, "do you think it right to support the
+missions of other churches besides your own?"
+
+"Do I think it right?"  I exclaimed in surprise.  "Of course I do.  I
+think it one of the greatest evils that can befall a Christian, that he
+should become so narrow-minded as to give only to his own church, and
+think _only_ of his own church's missions.  Why, surely a soul saved, if
+a matter of rejoicing in heaven, ought to be a matter of joy on earth,
+without reference to the particular church which was the instrument used
+by the Holy Spirit for that end.  I feel very strongly that all
+Christians who love our Saviour with deep sincerity must of necessity
+have a warm feeling towards His people in _all_ churches.  At any rate
+we ought to cultivate such a feeling."
+
+"Who can these be?" cried Jack, stopping and pointing to some figures
+that appeared to be approaching us in the distance.
+
+"They are negroes, at any rate," said I; "for they seem to be black, and
+are evidently naked."
+
+"Warriors, too, if I mistake not.  They have not yet observed us.  Shall
+we hide and let them pass?"
+
+Jack hesitated a moment, then leaping behind a bush, cried--
+
+"Ay, 'tis well to be cautious when nothing is to be gained by daring.
+These fellows outnumber us, and war-parties are not to be trusted--at
+least not if these of Africa resemble those of North America."
+
+"Hollo! there's a white man with them," cried Peterkin, as he peeped
+over the bushes behind which we were hid.
+
+"You don't say so, eh?  So there is.  Come; we have nothing to fear from
+the party of a traveller.--What, Mak, you shake your head!  What mean
+you?"
+
+Makarooroo increased the shaking of his head, and said, "Me no know
+_dat_, massa.  P'raps hab more to fear dan you tink."
+
+"Oh, stuff! come along.  Why, Mak, it seems as if gorilla-hunting had
+failed to improve your courage."
+
+As Jack said this he stepped out from among the bushes and advanced to
+meet the strangers.  Of course we all followed, and although we carried
+our rifles in a careless manner, as if we expected no evil, yet we held
+ourselves in readiness to take instant action if necessary.
+
+The moment the negroes perceived us, they set up a great shout and
+brandished their spears and guns, but the voice of their leader was
+instantly heard commanding them to halt.  They obeyed at once, and the
+European stranger advanced alone to meet us.  As he drew near we
+observed that he was a splendid-looking man, nearly as large as Jack
+himself, with a handsome figure and a free, off-hand gait.  But on
+coming closer we saw that his countenance, though handsome, wore a
+forbidding, stern expression.
+
+"Dat am a slabe-dealer," whispered our guide, as the stranger came up
+and saluted us in French.
+
+Jack replied in the same language; but on learning that we were
+Englishmen, he began to talk in our own tongue, although he evidently
+understood very little of it.
+
+"Do you travel alone with the natives?" inquired Jack, after a few
+preliminary remarks.
+
+"Yaas, sair, I doos," replied the stranger, who was a Portuguese trader,
+according to his own account.
+
+"You seem to carry little or no merchandise with you," said Jack,
+glancing towards the party of natives, who stood at some distance
+looking at us and conversing together eagerly.
+
+"I has none wis me, true, bot I has moche not ver' far off.  I bees go
+just now to seek for ivory, and ebony, and sl-a---w'at you call him?
+barwood."
+
+The man corrected himself quickly, but the slip confirmed Makarooroo's
+remark and our own suspicions that he was a slave-dealer.
+
+"De day is far gone," he continued, putting as amiable a smile on his
+countenance as possible; "perhaps you vill stop and we have dine
+togedder."
+
+Although we did not much like the appearance of our new friend or his
+party, we felt that it would be uncourteous in so wild a country, where
+we had so few chances of meeting with white faces, to refuse, so we
+agreed.  A camp-fire was speedily kindled, and the two parties mingled
+together, and sat down amicably to discuss roast monkey and venison
+steaks together.
+
+During the course of the meal the Portuguese trader became so
+communicative and agreeable that we all began to think we had judged him
+harshly.  We observed, too, that Makarooroo and the negroes had
+fraternised heartily, and our guide was singing and laughing, and making
+himself agreeable at a very uncommon rate, so much so as to call forth
+our surprise.
+
+"Mak seems to be mad to-day," observed Peterkin, as one of our guide's
+jovial laughs rang through the wood and was echoed by his new
+acquaintances.
+
+"Bees him not always so?" inquired the Portuguese.
+
+"He's always hearty enough," replied Jack, "but I must confess I never
+saw him in such high spirits as he seems to be in just now.  It must be
+the effect of meeting with new faces, I suppose."
+
+"Ah! s'pose so," remarked the trader.
+
+I was struck with the manner in which this was said.  There was a tone
+of affected indifference, such as one assumes when making a passing
+remark, but at the same time a dark frown rested for one moment on his
+brow, and he cast a piercing vindictive glance at our guide.  Next
+moment he was smiling blandly and making some humorous remark to
+Peterkin.
+
+I looked at my companions, but they had evidently not observed this
+little piece of by-play.  It seemed to me so unaccountable, considering
+that the two men had never met before, that I resolved to watch them.  I
+soon observed that Makarooroo's mirth was forced, that he was in fact
+acting a part, and I noticed once or twice that he also cast an
+occasional stealthy and piercing glance at the Portuguese.  It
+afterwards turned out that both men had been acting the same part, and
+that each had suspected what the other was doing.
+
+When our meal was concluded we prepared to resume our separate routes.
+
+"I goes to de west," observed the Portuguese, in a casual way, as he
+buckled on the belt that supported his hunting-knife.
+
+"Indeed!  I had understood you to say that you were going south."
+
+"No; you not have onderstand me.  I goes to de west, ver' long way."
+
+"Then, sir, I wish you a safe and pleasant journey," said Jack, lifting
+his cap.
+
+"De same to you, sairs, an' goot plenty of gorillas to you.  Farder nord
+dey be more plenty.  Adieu!"
+
+We took off our caps to each other, and saying farewell, we turned away,
+and soon lost sight of the party.
+
+"Ho! de yaller-faced villain," exclaimed Makarooroo between his clinched
+teeth, after we were out of earshot.
+
+"Why, what's wrong, Mak?" inquired Peterkin, in great surprise.
+
+"Ho! noting porteekler," replied the guide, with an air and tone of
+sarcasm that quite amused us.  "Hims not go sout', ho no! hims go west,
+ho yis!  Hims advise us to go nort', ho dear! dat bery clibber, bery
+mush clibber; but we is clibberer, we is, ho! ho! ho!"
+
+Our worthy guide looked so terribly fierce as he uttered this fiendish
+laugh, that we all came to a stand and gazed at him in surprise; we
+fancied that something must have deranged his mind.
+
+"Mak," said Peterkin, "you are mad.  What mean you by such grimaces?"
+
+Pursing his lips tightly, and looking at each of us for a few moments in
+silence, he finally crossed his arms on his chest, and turning eagerly
+to Jack, said with extreme volubility--
+
+"Dat rascal! dat tief!  Him's no trader, him's slabe-dealer; hims no go
+west, hims go south; an' w'at for hims go?  W'at for hims carry guns so
+many, eh?  Hims go" (here the guide dropped his voice into a whisper of
+intense bitterness)--"hims go for attack village an' take all peepils
+away for be slabes.  No pay for 'em--tief!--take dem by force."
+
+"Why, how did you come to know all this," said Jack, "or rather to
+suspect it? for you cannot be sure that you are right."
+
+"W'at, no can be sure me right? ho, yis, me sartin sure.  Me bery
+clibber.  Stop, now.  Did him--dat tief!--speak bery mush?"
+
+"Certainly he did, a good deal."
+
+"Yis, ho!  An' did him make _you_ speak bery mush?"
+
+"I rather think he did," replied Peterkin, laughing at our guide's
+eagerness.
+
+"Yis, ho! hims did.  An' did him ax you plenty question, all 'bout where
+you go, an' where you come from, an' _de way back_ to village where we
+be come from?  An' did hims say, when him find you was come from _sout_,
+dat hims was go _west_, though before dat hims hab say dat hims be go
+_sout_, eh?"
+
+"Certainly," said Jack, with a thoughtful look, "he did say all that,
+and a great deal more to that effect."
+
+"Yis, ho! hims did.  Me know bery well.  Me see him.  An' me also dood
+to de niggers what hims do to you.  Me talk an' laugh an' sing, _den me
+ax dem questions_.  But dey bery wise; dey no speak mush, but dey manage
+to speak 'nuff for me.  Yis, me bam--bam--eh?"
+
+"Boozle," suggested Peterkin.
+
+"Vis, bamboozle dem altogidder, ho! ho!"
+
+After a little further explanation we found that this Portuguese trader
+was a man-stealer, on his way to one of the smaller villages, with the
+intention of attacking it.  Makarooroo ascertained that they meant to
+proceed direct to that of King Jambai, first, however, getting one of
+the neighbouring tribes to pick a quarrel with that monarch and go to
+war with him; and we now recollected, with deep regret, that in our
+ignorance of what the Portuguese was, we had given him a great deal of
+information regarding the village of our late hospitable entertainer
+which might prove very useful to him, and very hurtful to poor King
+Jambai, in the event of such a raid being carried out.
+
+But, in addition to this, Makarooroo had ascertained that it was
+possible that, before going to King Jambai's village, they might perhaps
+make a descent on that of our friend Mbango, with whom we had left poor
+Okandaga.  It was this that raised the wrath of our guide to such a
+pitch.
+
+The instant we heard it Jack said--
+
+"Then that settles the question of our future proceedings.  We must bid
+adieu to the gorillas at once, and dog the steps of this marauding
+party, so as to prevent our good friends Mbango and Jambai being
+surprised and carried into slavery along with all their people.  It
+seems to me that our path is clear in this matter.  Even if we were not
+bound in honour to succour those who have treated us hospitably, we
+ought to do our best to undo the evil we have done in telling their
+enemies so much about them.  Besides, we must save Okandaga, whatever
+happens.  What say you, comrades?"
+
+"Of course we must," said Peterkin.  I also heartily concurred.
+
+"You's a good man," said Makarooroo, his eyes glistening with emotion.
+
+"If I did not stand by you at such a time as this," replied Jack,
+smiling, "I should certainly be a very bad man."
+
+"But what are we to do about our goods?" inquired I, "We cannot hope to
+keep up with these robbers if we carry our goods with us; and yet it
+seems hard to leave them behind, for we should fare ill, I fear, in this
+country if we travel as beggars."
+
+"We shall easily manage as to that," replied Jack.  "I have observed
+that one of our niggers is a sensible, and, I am disposed to think, a
+trustworthy fellow--"
+
+"D'you mean the man with the blind eye and the thumping big nose?"
+inquired Peterkin.
+
+"The same.  Well, I shall put him in charge, and tell him to follow us
+to Mbango's village; then we four shall start off light, and hunt our
+way south, travelling as fast as we can, and carrying as many strings of
+beads, by way of small change, as we can stuff into our pockets and
+fasten about our persons."
+
+"The very thing," cried Peterkin.  "So let's put it in practice at
+once."
+
+"Ay, this very night," said Jack, as we hurried back to the spot where
+our goods had been left.
+
+As we went along in silence I noticed that Peterkin sighed once or twice
+very heavily, and I asked him if he was quite well.
+
+"Well?  Ay, well enough in body, Ralph, but ill at ease in mind.  How
+can it be otherwise when we are thus suddenly and unexpectedly about to
+take leave of our dear friends the gorillas?  I declare my heart is fit
+to break."
+
+"I sympathise with you, Peterkin," said I, "for I have not yet made
+nearly as many notes in regard to these monster-monkeys as I could have
+wished.  However, I am thankful for what I have got, and perhaps we may
+come back here again one of these days."
+
+"What bloodthirsty fellows!" cried Jack, laughing.  "If you talk so, I
+fear that Mak and I shall have to cut your acquaintance; for, you see,
+he and I have got a _little_ feeling left."
+
+"Well, it's natural, I fancy," observed Peterkin, "that gorillas should
+feel for their kindred.  However, I console myself with the thought that
+the country farther south is much better filled with other game,
+although the great puggy is not there.  And then we shall come among
+lions again, which we can never find, I believe, in the gorilla country.
+I wonder if the gorilla has really driven them out of this part of
+Africa."
+
+"Some think it probable," observed I, "but we cannot make sure of that
+point."
+
+"Well, we can at all events make sure of this point," cried Peterkin, as
+we came in sight of our encampment, "that lions are thick enough in the
+country whither we are bound; so let's have a good supper, and hurrah
+for the south!  It's a bright prospect before us.  A fair lady to be
+saved; possibly a fight with the niggers, and lion, elephant,
+rhinoceros, alligator, hippopotamus, and buffalo shooting by way of
+relaxation in the intervals of the war!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
+
+AN UNEXPECTED MEETING--WE FLY, AND I MAKE A NARROW ESCAPE FROM AN
+APPALLING FATE.
+
+During many days after the incidents narrated in the last chapter did
+Jack, and Peterkin, and Makarooroo, and I, push across the continent
+through bush and brake, over hill and dale, morass and plain, at our
+utmost possible speed.  We did not, during the whole course of our
+journey, overtake the Portuguese slave-dealer; but we thought little of
+that, for it was not very probable that we should hit upon exactly the
+same route, and we entertained sanguine hopes that the energy and speed
+with which we kept steadily and undeviatingly on our way would enable us
+to reach the village of Mbango before the slave-dealer and his party.
+
+When I look back upon that time now, and reflect calmly on the dangers
+we encountered and the hardships we endured, I confess that I am filled
+with amazement.  I might easily fill several volumes such as this with
+anecdotes of our encounters with wild animals, and other adventures; but
+however interesting these might be in themselves, I must not forget that
+some of the main incidents of our sojourn in Africa have yet to be
+related, and that there is a limit to the patience of even youthful
+readers.
+
+Our power of enduring fatigue and sustained active exertion, with
+comparatively short intervals of nightly repose, was much greater than I
+could have believed to be possible.  I have no doubt that anxiety to
+save Okandaga from the terrible fate that hung over her enabled us to
+bear up under fatigues which would at other times have overcome us.  I
+know not well how it was that I kept up with my strong and agile
+comrades.  Oftentimes I felt ready to drop down as I walked, yet somehow
+I never thought of falling behind, but went doggedly on, and at nights
+found myself little worse in condition than they.  Peterkin, although
+small, was tough and springy, and his spirits seemed rather to rise than
+otherwise as his strength abated.  As for Jack, I never saw any one like
+him.  He seemed like a lion roaming in his strength over his native
+deserts.  So hardened had we all become during the course of our travels
+that we found ourselves not only equal to Makarooroo in pedestrian
+powers, but superior; for when occasion required we could almost knock
+him up, but I am free to admit that we never succeeded in doing this
+thoroughly.  In short, we were all as nearly as possible equal to each
+other, with the exception of Jack, who seemed in every way invulnerable.
+
+During this long and hurried but intensely interesting and delightful
+journey we came upon, at different times, almost every species of
+animal, plant, and tree peculiar to the African continent.  Oftentimes
+we passed by droves and herds of elephants, deer, buffalo, giraffes,
+antelopes, and zebras; we saw rhinoceroses, alligators, leopards, lions,
+apes of several kinds, and smaller monkeys innumerable.  We also saw
+great numbers of birds--some curious on account of their habits and
+form, others beautiful and bright as the rainbow.
+
+Yet although, as I have said, this journey was very delightful, our
+feelings were at different times exceedingly varied, and not
+unfrequently pained; for while we saw around us much that was beautiful,
+innocent, and lovely, we also witnessed the conflicts of many wild
+creatures, and sometimes came across evidences of the savage and cruel
+dispositions of the human beings by whom the country was peopled.  We
+always, however, carefully avoided native villages, being anxious not to
+be interrupted on our forced march.  Neither did we turn aside to hunt,
+although we were much tempted so to do, but contented ourselves with
+killing such animals as we required for our daily subsistence; and of
+these we shot as many as we required without having to turn aside from
+our straight course.
+
+Thus we went on day after day, and slept under the shade of the trees or
+under the wide canopy of heaven night after night, until we arrived one
+day at a beautiful valley, bordered by a plain, and traversed by a
+river, where Peterkin met with a sad accident, and our onward progress
+was for a short period arrested.
+
+It happened thus:--The region through which we chanced to be passing was
+peopled by so many natives that we had the utmost difficulty in avoiding
+them, and more than once were compelled to halt during the daytime in
+some sequestered dell, and resume our journey during the night.
+
+One day--it was, if I remember rightly, about two o'clock in the
+afternoon--we came suddenly in sight of a native village on the banks of
+the river whose course we were at that time following, and made a wide
+detour in order to avoid it.  We had passed it several miles, and were
+gradually bending into our course again, when we came unexpectedly upon
+a band of natives who had been out hunting and were returning to their
+village with the spoils of the chase on their shoulders.  Both parties
+at once came to an abrupt halt, and we stood for several minutes looking
+at each other--the natives in speechless amazement, while we conversed
+in whispers, uncertain what to do.
+
+We knew that if we made friendly advances we should no doubt be
+welcomed, but then we should certainly be compelled to go back with them
+to their village and spend at least a day or two with them, as we could
+not hope to give them a satisfactory reason for our going on at once.
+We also knew that to go on in spite of them would produce a quarrel,
+and, of course, a fight, which, as it would certainly result in
+bloodshed, was by all means to be avoided for we could not bear to think
+that a mere caprice of ours in visiting Africa should be the means of
+causing the death of a single human being, if we could prevent it.
+
+"What _is_ to be done?" said Peterkin, looking at Jack in despair.
+
+"I don't know," replied Jack.  "It's very awkward.  It will never do to
+go all the way back to the village with these stupid fellows, and we
+cannot tell them our real reason for going on; for, in the first place,
+they would perhaps not believe us, or, in the second place, they might
+offer to join us."
+
+"Fight," said Makarooroo in a low tone, grinding his teeth together and
+clutching his rifle.
+
+I felt deep sympathy with the poor fellow, for I knew well that in
+disposition he was naturally the reverse of quarrelsome, and that his
+present state of mind was the consequence of anxiety for the deliverance
+of his faithful bride.
+
+"No, no," replied Jack quickly; "we shall not fight."
+
+"Suppose we bolt!" whispered Peterkin, brightening up as the idea
+occurred to him--"regularly run away!"
+
+We seized at the idea instantly.  We were all of us hard of muscle and
+strong of wind now, and we knew that we could outstrip the savages.
+
+"We'll do it!" said Jack hastily.  "Let us scatter, too, so as to
+perplex them at the outset."
+
+"Capital!  Then here goes.  I'm off," cried Peterkin.
+
+"Stay!" said Jack.
+
+"Why?" demanded Peterkin.
+
+"Because we must appoint a place of rendezvous if we would hope to meet
+again."
+
+"True; I forgot that."
+
+"D'you all see yonder blue mountain-peak?"
+
+"Let us meet there.  If we miss each other at the base, let us proceed
+to the summit and wait.  Away!"
+
+As Jack uttered the last word we all turned right about and fled like
+the wind.  The savages instantly set up a hideous yell, and darted after
+us; but we made for the thick woods, and scattering in all directions,
+as had been previously arranged, speedily threw them off the scent, and
+finally made our escape.
+
+For the first time since landing on the continent of Africa, I now found
+myself totally alone in the wild forest.  After separating from my
+companions, I ran at my utmost speed in the direction of a dense jungle,
+where I purposed taking shelter until the natives should pass by, and
+then come out and pursue my way leisurely.  But I was prevented from
+adopting this course in consequence of two very fleet negroes
+discovering my intention, and, by taking a short cut, frustrating it.  I
+was compelled, therefore, to keep in the more open part of the forest,
+and trust simply to speed and endurance for escape.
+
+I should think that I ran nearly two miles at full speed, and kept well
+ahead of my pursuers.  Indeed, I had distanced them considerably; but
+feeling that I could not hold out long at such a killing pace, I pulled
+up a little, and allowed them to gain on me slightly.  I was just about
+to resume my full speed, and, if possible, throw them at once far
+behind, when my foot was caught by a thorny shrub, and I fell headlong
+to the ground.  I was completely stunned for a moment or two, and lay
+quite motionless.  But my consciousness suddenly returned, accompanied
+by a feeling of imminent danger, which caused me to spring up and renew
+my headlong career.  Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that the two
+natives had gained so much on me that had I lain a few seconds longer I
+must inevitably have been captured.
+
+I exerted myself now beyond my powers.  My head, too, from the shock I
+had received, became confused, and I scarce knew whither I was going.
+Presently a loud, dull roar, as if of distant thunder, struck upon my
+ear, and I beheld what appeared to me to be a vast white plain covered
+with mist before.  Next moment I found myself on the brink of a
+precipice of a hundred feet deep, over which, a little to my left, a
+large river fell, and thundered down into a dark abyss, whence issued
+those clouds of spray which I had taken for a white plain in the
+confusion of my brain and vision.
+
+I made a desperate effort to check myself, but it was too late.  My
+heels broke off the earthy edge of the cliff, and I obtained just one
+awful glance of the horrid turmoil directly below me as I fell over with
+a mass of debris.  I uttered an involuntary shriek of agony, and flung
+my arms wildly out.  My hand clutched the branch of an overhanging bush.
+This, slight though it was, was the means, under God, of saving my
+life.  The branch broke off, but it checked my fall, and at the same
+time swung me into the centre of a tree which projected out from the
+cliff almost horizontally.  Through this tree I went crashing with
+fearful violence, until I was arrested by my chest striking against a
+stout branch.  This I clutched with the tenacity of despair, and
+wriggling myself, as it were, along it, wound my arms and legs round it,
+and held on for some time with the utmost fervour of muscular energy.
+
+My position now was beyond conception horrible.  I shut my eyes and
+prayed earnestly for help.  Presently I opened them, and in the position
+in which I then lay, the first thing I saw was the boiling water of the
+fall more than a hundred feet below me.  My agony was such that large
+drops of perspiration broke out all over my forehead.  It was many
+minutes before I could summon up courage to turn my head so as to look
+upward, for I had a vague feeling that if I were to move the branch on
+which I lay would break off.  When I did so, I observed that the
+branches over my head completely screened the sky from me, so that I
+knew I had escaped one danger; for the natives, believing, no doubt,
+that I had fallen down into the river, would at once give up their
+hopeless pursuit.  The branch on which I lay was so slender that it
+swayed about with every motion that I made, and the longer I remained
+there the more nervous did I become.
+
+At last I bethought me that unless I made a manful effort I should
+certainly perish, so I looked about me until I became accustomed to the
+giddy position.  Then I perceived that, by creeping along the branch
+until I gained the trunk of the tree, I could descend by means of it to
+the face of the precipice from which it projected, and thus gain a
+narrow ledge of rock that overhung the abyss.  In any other
+circumstances I would as soon have ventured to cross the Falls of
+Niagara on a tight-rope; but I had no other alternative, so I crept
+along the branch slowly and nervously, clinging to it, at the same time,
+with terrible tenacity.  At last I gained the trunk of the tree and
+breathed more freely, for it was much steadier than the branch.
+
+The trunk projected, as I have said, almost horizontally from the
+precipice, so I had to draw myself carefully along it, not daring to get
+on my hands and knees, and finally reached the ledge above referred to.
+Compared with my former position, this was a place of temporary safety,
+for it was three feet wide, and having a good head, I had no fear of
+falling over.  But on looking up my heart sank within me, for the bare
+cliff offered no foothold whatever.  I do not believe that a monkey
+could have climbed it.  To descend the precipice was equally impossible,
+for it was like a wall.  My only hope, therefore, lay in the ledge on
+which I stood, and which, I observed, ran along to the right and turned
+round a projecting rock that hid the remainder of it from view.
+
+Hasting along it, I found, to my inexpressible relief, that it
+communicated with the top of the precipice.  The ascent was difficult
+and dangerous; but at last I succeeded in passing the most serious part,
+and soon gained the summit of the cliff in safety, where I immediately
+fell on my knees and returned thanks for my deliverance.
+
+I had passed nearly an hour in the trying adventure which I have just
+related, and feeling that my companions would naturally begin soon to be
+anxious about me, I started for our rendezvous, which I reached in
+little more than an hour and a half.  Here I found Jack seated alone
+beside a stream of water, from which he occasionally lifted a little in
+the hollow of his hand and drank greedily.
+
+"Ah, Ralph, my boy!" he exclaimed joyfully as I came up, "I'm glad
+you've come.  I had begun to fear that you must have been captured.  Ay,
+drink, lad!  You seem warm enough, though I scarcely think you can be
+much more so than I am.  What a run we have had, to be sure!  But, what,
+Ralph--your clothes are much torn, and your face and hands are
+scratched.  Why, you must have got among thorns.  Not badly hurt, I
+trust?"
+
+"Oh no; nothing to speak of.  I have, however, had a narrow escape.  But
+before I speak of that, what of Peterkin?"
+
+"I don't know," replied Jack, with an anxious expression; "and to say
+truth, I begin to feel uneasy about him, for he ought to have been here
+almost as soon as myself."
+
+"How so?  Did you, then, run together?"
+
+"Latterly we did.  At first we separated, and I knew not what had become
+either of him or you.  The fact is, I had enough to do to look out for
+myself, for a dozen of rascally niggers kept close upon my heels and
+tried my powers of running somewhat; so I took to the thick wood and
+made a detour, to throw them off the scent.  All at once I heard a
+smashing of the bushes right in front of me, and before I knew what I
+was about, Peterkin bounced through the underwood and almost plunged
+into my arms.  We both gave an involuntary yell of alarm.
+
+"`There's two of 'em right on my heels,' said he in a gasp, as he dashed
+off again.  `Come along with me, Jack.'
+
+"I followed as fast as I could, and we crossed an open plain together,
+when I looked over my shoulder, and saw that all the other fellows had
+given up the chase except the two mentioned by Peterkin.  These kept on
+after us, and somehow or other we got separated again, just after
+re-entering the wood on the other side of the plain.  Of course I ran
+on, expecting to see my companion every minute.  Finally I came to the
+rendezvous, and here I found that the savages had given up all hope of
+overtaking me, for I could see nothing of them."
+
+"How long ago is that?"  I inquired quickly.
+
+"About an hour."
+
+"Then poor Peterkin must have been caught," said I, in a voice of
+despair.
+
+"No, that is not likely," replied Jack; "for I climbed a high tree and
+saw the savages recrossing the plain alone.  I think it probable he may
+have lost his way, and is afraid to climb trees or to fire off his gun
+to signal us, for fear of being heard or seen by the niggers.  I have
+sent Mak, who came here soon after I did, to search for him."
+
+"It may be as you say, Jack, but we must go at once to look for him."
+
+"With all my heart, Ralph.  I only waited until you had sufficiently
+rested."
+
+"The body cannot rest when the mind is ill at ease.  Come, let us start
+at once.  I shall tell you of my little adventure as we go along."
+
+We soon reached the edge of the plain where Jack had been separated from
+his companion, and here we proceeded to make a careful search.  Being
+certain that the savages were now out of earshot, we began to halloo
+occasionally as we went along.  But monkeys and parrots alone replied to
+us.
+
+"This is the very spot where I last saw him," said Jack, leading me to a
+palm-tree which stood a little within the outer verge of the wood; "and
+here are his footsteps faintly indicated on the grass."
+
+"Ah! then let us follow these up," said I eagerly.
+
+"We might, if we were North American backwoodsmen or Red Indians; but I
+can scarcely follow.  Stay, here they enter upon a piece of soft ground,
+and are more distinct.  Now, then, we shall get on."
+
+For nearly quarter of an hour we followed the footprints; then we came
+to dry ground again, and lost all traces of them.  We wandered about
+perseveringly, nevertheless, and were rewarded by again discovering them
+about quarter of a mile farther on, leading down to the banks of the
+river on another part of which I had had such a narrow escape.
+
+While we were advancing--I in front--I felt the ground beneath me
+suddenly begin to give way with a crackling sound.  I instinctively
+threw up my arms and sprang back.
+
+"Hollo, Ralph!" cried my companion, seizing me with one hand by the
+collar, and hauling, or rather lifting me back, as if I had been a
+poodle dog.  "Why, you were as near as possible into a pitfall."
+
+"Thanks to you, Jack, that I am not actually in," said I, putting my
+somewhat twisted costume to rights.  "But, I say, does it not strike you
+that perhaps Peterkin has fallen into one of these?"
+
+We both started and listened with breathless attention, for at that
+moment we heard a faint groan not far from us.  It was repeated almost
+immediately, though so faintly that we could scarcely ascertain the
+direction whence it came.  We advanced cautiously, however, a few paces,
+and discovered a hole in the ground, from which, at that very moment,
+the dishevelled head of poor Peterkin appeared, like Jack coming out of
+his box.  His sudden appearance and serio-comic expression would have
+been at any other time sufficient to have set us off in fits of
+laughter; but joy at finding him, and anxiety lest he should prove to be
+seriously hurt, restrained us at that time effectually.
+
+"My dear fellow!" cried Jack, hurrying forward.
+
+"Keep back! avaunt ye.  Oh dear me, Jack, my poor head!" said Peterkin
+with a sigh, pressing his hand to his forehead; "what an intolerable
+whack I have got on my miserable caput.  There; don't come nearer, else
+you'll break through.  Reach me your hand.  That's it; thank'ee."
+
+"There you are, all safe, my boy," cried Jack, as he drew Peterkin out
+of the hole.--"But hollo!  I say, Ralph, run down for some water; I
+believe the poor fellow has fainted."
+
+I sprang down the river-bank, and speedily returned with some water in
+the crown of my wide-awake.  Peterkin had recovered before I came back,
+and a long draught quite restored him, so that in a few minutes he was
+able to relate how the accident had befallen him.
+
+"You see," said he, in a jocular tone, for it was a most unusually
+severe accident indeed that could drive the fun out of our little
+friend--"you see, after I lost sight of Jack, I took a leaf out of the
+hare's book, and doubled on my course.  This brought me, unhappily, to
+the banks of the river, where I came upon one of the pitfalls that are
+made by the niggers here to catch wild beasts, and in I went.  I kept
+hold of the surface boughs, however, scrambled out again, and pushed on.
+But I had not gone ten yards when the ground began to crackle and sink.
+I made a desperate bound to clear it, but my foot caught in a branch,
+and down I went head foremost into the pit.  And that's the whole of my
+story.  How long I remained there I know not.  If I had known what time
+it was when I dived in, and you were to tell me what o'clock it is now,
+we might arrive at a knowledge of the time I have spent at the bottom of
+that hole.  All that I can positively affirm is, that I went in, and
+within in the last ten minutes I came out!"
+
+We laughed at this free-and-easy manner of narrating the incident, and
+then prepared to return to our rendezvous; but on attempting to walk,
+Peterkin found that he had received a greater shake than at first he had
+imagined.  Several times during our march he became giddy, and had to be
+supported; and after reaching our encampment, where we found Makarooroo
+waiting for us, he fainted.  We were therefore obliged to make up our
+minds to encamp where we were for a few days.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
+
+AN UNFORTUNATE DELAY, AND A TERRIBLE VISITOR.
+
+Only those who have been forcibly held back when filled with the deepest
+anxiety to go forward, can form any thing like a conception of our state
+of mind during the few days that succeeded that on which Peterkin met
+with his accident.
+
+We felt like chained hounds when the huntsmen pass by.  We knew that
+every hour increased the distance between us and the slave-dealer's
+party, who, unless we succeeded in passing them and reaching the
+villages first, would infallibly succeed in their villainous design.
+But Peterkin was unable to proceed without great risk, as whenever he
+attempted to walk steadily for any distance his head became giddy, and
+we were compelled to halt, so that a day or two's rest was absolutely
+necessary.  Poor Makarooroo was nearly beside himself with impatience;
+but to do him justice, he endeavoured to conceal the state of his
+feelings when in Peterkin's presence.
+
+During this period of forced inaction, although of course I had nothing
+to do, I found it impossible to apply my mind closely to the study of
+any of the strange and beautiful objects by which I was surrounded.
+Anxiety banished from me almost entirely the love of study, as well as
+the power of observation.  Nevertheless, one or two things that I saw
+were so curious that they could not but make a deep impression on my
+memory.
+
+I discovered a spider of a very remarkable kind, which was such an
+ingenious creature as to be capable of making a door to the entrance of
+its house.  I came upon the animal one day while taking a stroll a short
+distance from our camp.  It was as large as a shilling, reddish in
+colour, and from the fierce, rapid way in which it ran about hither and
+thither as if in search of prey, it had an exceedingly horrible and
+voracious aspect.  The hole of this creature is visible only when its
+owner is absent from home.  It is quite evident either that there are no
+thieves among the lower animals there, or that there is nothing in the
+hole to steal, for when he goes out he leaves the door open behind him.
+When he returns he shuts the door, and the hole becomes invisible, in
+consequence of the door being coated with earth on the outside.  Its
+inside is lined with a pure white silky substance, which at once
+attracted my attention as I passed.  On trying to pick up the door, I
+found that it was attached by a hinge to the hole, and on being shut it
+fitted exactly.
+
+Perhaps the most singular discovery I made was a tree, the stem of which
+had been so completely surrounded by spiders' webs that it could not be
+seen, and I had to cut through the network with my knife in order to get
+at the tree.  The lines of those webs were as thick as coarse threads,
+and pretty strong, as I had reason to know; for when walking back to
+camp the same evening, meditating deeply on our unfortunate detention, I
+ran my head into the middle of a spider's web, and was completely
+enveloped in it, so much so that it was with considerable difficulty I
+succeeded in clearing it away.  I was as regularly netted as if a gauze
+veil had been thrown over me.
+
+On our third morning after the accident we set forth again, and
+continued our journey by forced marches as Peterkin could bear it.
+Although the two past days and nights had been absolutely lost, and
+could not now be recalled, yet the moment we set out and left our camp
+behind us, the load of anxiety was at once lifted off our minds, and we
+hurried forward with an elasticity of step and spirit that was quite
+delightful.  We felt like prisoners set free, and kept up a continual
+flow of conversation, sometimes in reference to the scenery and objects
+around us, at other times in regard to our future plans or our past
+experiences.
+
+"It seems to me," said Jack, breaking silence at the end of a long pause
+which had succeeded an animated discussion as to whether it were better
+to spend one's life in the civilised world or among the wilds of Africa,
+in which discussion Peterkin, who advocated the wild life, was utterly,
+though not admittedly, beaten--"it seems to me that, notwithstanding the
+short time we stayed in the gorilla country, we have been pretty
+successful.  Haven't we bagged thirty-three altogether?"
+
+"Thirty-six, if you count the babies in arms," responded Peterkin.
+
+"Of course we are entitled to count these."
+
+"I think you are both out in your reckoning," said I, drawing out my
+note-book; "the last baby that I shot was our thirty-seventh."
+
+"What!" cried Peterkin, "the one with the desperately black face and the
+horrible squint, that nearly tore all the hair out of Jack's head before
+he managed to strangle him?  That wasn't a baby; it was a big boy, and I
+have no doubt a big rascal besides."
+
+"That may be so," I rejoined; "but whatever he was, I have him down as
+number thirty-seven in my list."
+
+"Pity we didn't make up the forty," observed Jack.
+
+"Ah! yes indeed," said Peterkin.  "But let me see: could we not manage
+to make it up to that yet?"
+
+"Impossible," said I.  "We are far away from the gorilla land now, I
+know; for, in addition to the fact that we have seen no traces of
+gorillas for a long time, we have, within the last few days, seen
+several lions, which, you are well aware, do not exist in the gorilla
+country."
+
+"True; but you mistake me," rejoined Peterkin.  "I do not mean to make
+up the number to forty by killing three more, but by proving, almost to
+demonstration, that we have already been the death of that number, in
+addition to those noted down."
+
+"You'll find that rather difficult," said Jack, laughing.
+
+"Not at all," cried Peterkin.  "Let me think a minute.  You remember
+that enormously big, hairy fellow, that looked so like an ugly old man
+that Ralph refused point-blank to fire at him, whereupon you fired at
+him point-blank and wounded him in the shoulder as he was running away?"
+
+"We treated several big fellows in that way," replied Jack; "which of
+them do you allude to?--the one that roared so loud and terrified you so
+much that you nearly ran away?"
+
+"No, no; you know well enough which one I mean.  The one that ran along
+the edge of the stagnant pool into which you tumbled as we were coming
+back."
+
+"Oh yes!  I remember," said Jack, laughing.
+
+"Well, that fellow flew into such a horrible rage when he was wounded,"
+continued Peterkin, "that I am perfectly certain he went straight home
+and murdered his wife in a passion; which brings up the number to
+thirty-eight.  Then there was that old woman-gorilla that I brought down
+when we were descending yon hill that was covered with such splendid
+vines.  You remember?  Well, I'm quite certain that the young
+man-gorilla beside her, who ran off and escaped, was her son, and that
+he went home straightway and died of grief.  That makes thirty-nine.
+Then--"
+
+"Oh, do be quiet, Peterkin, please," said I, with a shudder.  "You put
+things in such a fearfully dark and murderous light that I feel quite as
+if I were a murderer.  I feel quite uneasy, I assure you; and if it were
+not that we have killed all these creatures in the cause of science, I
+should be perfectly miserable."
+
+"In the cause of science!" repeated Peterkin; "humph!  I suspect that a
+good deal of wickedness is perpetrated under the wing of science."
+
+"Come, come," said Jack; "don't you begin to grow sarcastic, Master
+Peterkin.  I abominate sarcasm, and cannot tolerate sarcastic people.
+If you adopt that style, I shall revert to my natural habits as a
+gorilla, and tear you in pieces."
+
+"There you exhibit your unnatural ignorance of your own natural habits,"
+retorted Peterkin; "for you ought to know that gorillas never tear men
+in pieces--their usual mode being to knock you down with a blow of their
+huge paws."
+
+"Well, I will knock you down if you prefer it."
+
+"Thank you; I'd rather not.  Besides, you have almost knocked me up
+already; so pray call a halt and let me rest a bit."
+
+We were all very willing to agree to this request, having walked the
+last two or three miles at a very quick pace.  Seating ourselves on the
+trunk of a fallen tree, we enjoyed the beautiful prospect before us.  An
+open vista enabled us to see beyond the wood in which we were travelling
+into an extensive sweep of prairie-land on which the sinking sun was
+shedding a rich flood of light.  It happened to be a deliciously cool
+evening, and the chattering of numerous parrots as well as the
+twittering songs of other birds--less gorgeous, perhaps, but more
+musical than they--refreshed our ears as the glories of the landscape
+did our eyes.  While we were gazing dreamily before us in silent
+enjoyment, Jack suddenly interrupted our meditations by exclaiming--
+
+"Hist! look yonder!"
+
+He pointed as he spoke to a distant part of the plain on which the
+forest closely pressed.
+
+"A zebra!" cried I, with delight; for besides the feeling of pleasure at
+seeing this splendid creature, I entertained a hope that we might shoot
+him and procure a steak for supper, of which at that time we stood much
+in need.
+
+"I'm too tired to stalk it now," said Peterkin, with an air of
+chagrin.--"Are you up to it, Jack?"
+
+"Quite; but I fear he's an animal that's very difficult to stalk in such
+an open country.--What say you, Mak?"
+
+"Hims no be cotched dis yer night, massa; hims too far away an' too wide
+'wake."
+
+"What say you to a long shot, Peterkin?  Your rifle is sighted for four
+hundred yards, and he seems to be little more than six hundred off."
+
+"I'll try," said our friend, going down on one knee and adjusting the
+sight of his piece.  Taking a long, steady aim, he fired, and in another
+instant the zebra lay dead on the plain.  I need hardly add that our
+amazement was excessive.  Even Peterkin himself could scarcely believe
+his eyes.  Had his rifle been sighted for such a distance, the shot,
+although a splendid one, would not have amazed us so much, because we
+knew that our friend's aim was deadly; but as he had to elevate the
+muzzle above the object fired at and guess the amount of elevation, the
+shot was indeed wonderful.  It was a long time before our guide could
+move, but when he did recover himself he danced and shouted like a
+madman with delight, and then, setting off with a bound, sped across the
+plain like a deer.
+
+"Come along," cried Jack with a laugh--"let's follow; for Mak looked so
+rabid when he went off that I believe he'll eat the beast raw before we
+can claim our share, if we don't look sharp."
+
+We all of us set off at a smart trot, and soon came to the spot where
+our prize lay.  It was a splendid creature, and in prime condition.
+After examining it carefully, and descanting on the beauty of its
+striped skin, I sat down beside it and pulled out my note-book, while my
+comrades entered the forest to search for a suitable place on which to
+encamp, and to kindle a fire.  A spot was quickly found, and I had
+scarcely finished making notes when they returned to carry the zebra
+into the encampment.  We accomplished this with some difficulty, and
+laid it beside the fire.  Then cutting four large steaks from its flanks
+we proceeded to sup, after which we made our arrangements for spending
+the night there.  We little knew the startling surprise that was in
+store for us that night.
+
+As the forest in that place happened to be swarming with wild animals of
+every kind, we deemed it prudent to set a watch as well as to keep up a
+blazing fire.  Jack and I and the negro kept watch by turns; Peterkin,
+being still sufficiently an invalid to claim exemption from laborious
+duties, was permitted to rest undisturbed.
+
+About midnight I aroused Jack, and having made him sit up, in order to
+show that he was thoroughly awake, I lay down and went to sleep.
+
+How long I slept I cannot tell, but I was suddenly awakened by one of
+the most tremendous roars I ever heard.  It was so chose to me that, in
+the confusion of my sleepy brain, it seemed to be far more terrible than
+that even of the gorilla.  I was mistaken in this, however, and no doubt
+my semi-somnolent condition tended to increase its awfulness.
+
+Springing into a sitting posture, and by an involuntary impulse reaching
+out my hand for my gun which lay close to me, I beheld a sight that was
+calculated to appal the stoutest heart.  A lion of the largest size was
+in the very act of springing over the bushes and alighting on the zebra,
+which, as I have said, lay on the other side of the fire and not four
+yards off from us.  As the light glared in the brute's eyes, and, as it
+were, sparkled in gleams on its shaggy mane, which streamed out under
+the force of its majestic bound, it seemed to my bewildered gaze as
+though the animal were in the air almost above my head, and that he must
+inevitably alight upon myself.  This, at least, is the impression left
+upon my mind now that I look back upon that terrific scene.  But there
+was no time for thought.  The roar was uttered, the bound was made, and
+the lion alighted on the carcass of the zebra almost in one and the same
+moment.  I freely confess that my heart quailed within me.  Yet that did
+not prevent my snatching up my gun; but before I had time to cock it the
+crashing report of Jack's elephant rifle almost split the drum of my
+ear, and I beheld the lion drop as if it had been a stone.
+
+It lay without motion, completely dead, and we found, on examination,
+that the ball had smashed in the centre of its forehead and completely
+penetrated its brain.
+
+Some time elapsed before we could find words to express our feelings.
+Our guide, who had so completely enveloped his head and shoulders in
+grass when he lay down to sleep that he was the last to spring up,
+looked at the huge carcass of the lion with an expression of utter
+bewilderment.
+
+"What a magnificent fellow!  And what a splendid shot!" exclaimed
+Peterkin at last.  "Why, Jack, I don't believe there's a finer lion in
+Africa.  It's lucky, though, that you were on the _qui vive_."
+
+"Yes," said I; "had it not been for you we might have been all killed by
+this time."
+
+"No fear o' dat," chimed in our guide, as he sat down on the lion's
+shoulder, and began to stroke its mane; "hims was want him's supper off
+de zebra, ho! ho!  Hims got him's supper off a bullet!"
+
+"'Tis well that he has," observed Jack, as he reloaded his rifle.  "To
+say truth, comrades, I scarcely deserve credit for being guardian of the
+camp, for I'm ashamed to say that I was sound asleep at the moment the
+lion roared.  How I ever managed to take so quick and so good an aim is
+more than I can tell.  Luckily my rifle was handy, and I had fallen
+asleep in a sitting posture.  Had it been otherwise, I could scarcely
+have been in time to prevent the brute springing on us, had he felt so
+disposed."
+
+Here was now another subject for my note-book, so I sat down, and began
+a minute inspection of the noble-looking animal, while my comrades,
+heaping fresh logs on the fire, sat down in front of it, and for upwards
+of an hour, "fought their battles o'er again."
+
+It was a matter of deep regret to us all that we could not afford to
+carry away with us the skin of this lion as a memorial; but
+circumstanced as we then were, that was out of the question, so we
+contented ourselves with extracting his largest teeth and all his claws,
+which we still preserve in our museum as trophies of the adventure.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
+
+WE VISIT A NATURAL MENAGERIE, SEE WONDERFUL SIGHTS, AND MEET WITH
+STRANGE ADVENTURES.
+
+We observed, on this journey, that the elephants which we met with in
+our farthest north point were considerably smaller than those farther to
+the south, yet though smaller animals, their tusks were much larger then
+those of the south.  The weight of those tusks varied from twenty to
+fifty pounds, and I saw one that was actually upwards of one hundred
+pounds in weight--equal, in fact, to the weight of a big boy or a little
+man.  Such tusks, however, were rare.
+
+At nights, when we encamped near to a river or pool of water, we saw
+immense numbers of elephants come down to drink and enjoy themselves.
+They seemed, in fact, to be intoxicated with delight, if not with water;
+for they screamed with joy, and filling their trunks with water, spurted
+it over themselves and each other in copious showers.  Of course, we
+never disturbed them on such occasions, for we came to the conclusion
+that it would be the height of barbarity and selfishness to spoil the
+pleasure of so many creatures merely for the sake of a shot.
+
+Frequently we were wont to go after our supper to one of those ponds,
+when we chanced to be in the immediate neighbourhood of one, and lying
+concealed among the bushes, watch by the light of the moon the strange
+habits and proceedings of the wild creatures that came there to drink.
+The hours thus passed were to me the most interesting by far that I
+spent in Africa.  There was something so romantic in the kind of
+scenery, in the dim mysterious light, and in the grand troops of wild
+creatures that came there in all the pith and fire of untamed freedom to
+drink.  It was like visiting a natural menagerie on the most magnificent
+scale; for in places where water is scarce any pool that may exist is
+the scene of constant and ever-changing visits during the entire night.
+
+In fact, I used to find it almost impossible to tear myself away,
+although I knew that repose was absolutely needful, in order to enable
+me to continue the journey on the succeeding day, and I am quite certain
+that had not Peterkin and Jack often dragged me off in a jocular way by
+main force, I should have remained there all night, and have fallen
+asleep probably in my ambush.
+
+One night of this kind that we passed I shall never forget.  It was
+altogether a remarkable and tremendously exciting night; and as it is a
+good type of the style of night entertainment to be found in that wild
+country, I shall describe it.
+
+It happened on a Saturday night.  We were then travelling through a
+rather dry district, and had gone a whole day without tasting water.  As
+evening approached we came, to our satisfaction, to a large pond of
+pretty good water, into which we ran knee-deep, and filling our caps
+with water, drank long and repeated draughts.  Then we went into a piece
+of jungle about a quarter of a mile distant, and made our encampment,
+intending to rest there during the whole of the Sabbath.
+
+I may mention here that it was our usual custom to rest on the Sabbath
+days.  This we did because we thought it right, and we came ere long to
+know that it was absolutely needful; for on this journey southward we
+all agreed that as life and death might depend on the speed with which
+we travelled, we were quite justified in continuing our journey on the
+Sabbath.  But we found ourselves at the end of the second week so
+terribly knocked up that we agreed to devote the whole of the next
+Sabbath to repose.  This we did accordingly, and found the utmost
+benefit from it; and we could not avoid remarking, in reference to this
+on the care and tenderness of our heavenly Father, who has so arranged
+that obedience to His command should not only bring a peculiar blessing
+to our souls, but, so to speak, a natural and inevitable advantage to
+our bodies.  These reflections seemed to me to throw some light on the
+passage, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."
+But as this is not the place for theological disquisition, I shall not
+refer further to that subject.
+
+Not having, then, to travel on the following day, we made up our minds
+to spend an hour or two in a place of concealment near the margin of
+this pond; and I secretly resolved that I would spend the _whole_ night
+there with my note-book (for the moon, we knew, would be bright), and
+make a soft pillow of leaves on which I might drop and go to sleep when
+my eyes refused any longer to keep open.
+
+The moon had just begun to rise when we finished our suppers and
+prepared to go to our post of observation.  We took our rifles with us
+of course, for although we did not intend to shoot, having more than
+sufficient food already in camp, we could not tell but that at any
+moment those weapons might be required for the defence of our lives.
+Makarooroo had been too long accustomed to see wild animals to
+understand the pleasure we enjoyed in merely staring at them, so he was
+left in charge of our camp.
+
+"Now, then," said Peterkin, as we left the encampment, "hurrah, for the
+menagerie!"
+
+"You may well call it that," said Jack, "for there's no lack of
+variety."
+
+"Are we to shoot?" inquired Peterkin.
+
+"Better not, I think.  We don't require meat, and there is no use in
+murdering the poor things.  What a splendid scene!"
+
+We halted to enjoy the view for a few seconds.  The forest out of which
+we had emerged bordered an extensive plain, which was dotted here and
+there with scattered groups of trees, which gave to the country an
+exceedingly rich aspect.  In the midst of these the pond lay glittering
+in the soft moonlight like a sheet of silver.  It was surrounded on
+three sides by low bushes and a few trees.  On the side next to us it
+was open and fully exposed to view.  The moonlight was sufficiently
+bright to render every object distinctly visible, yet not so bright as
+to destroy the pleasant feeling of mysterious solemnity that pervaded
+the whole scene.  It was wonderfully beautiful.  I felt almost as if I
+had reached a new world.
+
+Continuing our walk we quickly gained the bushes that fringed the margin
+of the pool, which was nowhere more than thirty yards broad, and on our
+arrival heard the hoofs of several animals that we had scared away
+clattering on the ground as they retreated.
+
+"There they go already," cried Jack; "now let us look for a hillock of
+some kind on which to take up our position."
+
+"We shall not have to look far," said I, "for here seems a suitable spot
+ready at our hand."
+
+"Your eyes are sharp to-night, Ralph," observed Peterkin; "the place is
+splendid, so let's to work."
+
+Laying down our rifles, we drew our hunting-knives, and began to cut
+down some of the underwood on the top of a small hillock that rose a
+little above the surrounding bushes, and commanded a clear view of the
+entire circumference of the pond.  We selected this spot for the double
+reason that it was a good point of observation and a safe retreat, as
+animals coming to the pond to drink, from whatever quarter they might
+arrive, would never think of ascending a hillock covered with bushes, if
+they could pass round it.
+
+Having cleared a space sufficiently large to hold us--leaving, however,
+a thin screen of shrubs in front through which we intended to peep--we
+strewed the ground with leaves, and lay down to watch with our loaded
+rifles close beside us.  We felt certain of seeing a good many animals,
+for even during the process of preparing our unlace of retreat several
+arrived, and were scared away by the noise we made.
+
+Presently we heard footsteps approaching.
+
+"There's something," whispered Peterkin.
+
+"Ay," returned Jack.  "What I like about this sort o' thing is your
+uncertainty as to what may turn up.  It's like deep-sea fishing.  Hist!
+look out."
+
+The steps were rapid.  Sometimes they clattered over what appeared to be
+pebbly ground, then they became muffled as the animal crossed a grassy
+spot; at last it trotted out of the shade of the bushes directly
+opposite to us into the moonlight, and showed itself to be a beautiful
+little antelope of the long-horned kind, with a little fawn by its side.
+The two looked timidly round for a few seconds, and snuffed the air as
+if they feared concealed enemies, and then, trotting into the water,
+slaked their thirst together.  I felt as great pleasure in seeing them
+take a long, satisfactory draught as if I had been swallowing it myself,
+and hoped they would continue there for some time; but they had barely
+finished when the rapid gallop of several animals was heard, and scared
+them away instantly.
+
+The newcomers were evidently heavy brutes, for their tread was loud and
+quite distinct, as compared with the steps of the antelopes.  A few
+seconds sufficed to disclose them to our expectant eyes.  A large herd
+of giraffes trotted to the water's edge and began to drink.  It was a
+splendid sight to behold these graceful creatures stooping to drink, and
+then raising their heads haughtily to a towering height as they looked
+about from side to side.  In the course of a couple of hours we saw
+elands, springboks, gnus, leopards, and an immense variety of wild
+creatures, some of which fawned on and played with each other, while
+others fought and bellowed until the woods resounded with the din.
+
+While we were silently enjoying the sight, and I attempting to make a
+few entries in my note-book, our attention was attracted to a cracking
+of the branches close to the right side of our hillock.
+
+"Look out!" whispered Jack; but the warning was scarcely needed, for we
+instinctively seized our rifles.  A moment after our hearts leaped
+violently as we heard a crashing step that betokened the approach of
+some huge creature.
+
+"Are we safe here?"  I whispered to Jack.
+
+"Safe enough if we keep still.  But we shall have to cut and run if an
+elephant chances to get sight of us."
+
+I confess that at that moment I felt uneasy.  The hillock on the summit
+of which we lay was only a place of comparative safety, because no
+animal was likely to ascend an elevated spot without an object in view,
+and as the purpose of all the nocturnal visitors to that pond was the
+procuring of water, we did not think it probable that any of them would
+approach unpleasantly near to our citadel; but if any wild beast should
+take a fancy to do so, there was nothing to prevent him, and the slight
+screen of bushes by which we were surrounded would certainly have been
+no obstacle in the way.
+
+A hunter in the African wilds, however, has not much time to think.
+Danger is usually upon him in a moment.  We had barely time to full-cock
+our rifles when the bushes near us were trodden down, and a huge black
+rhinoceros sauntered slowly up to us.  So near was he that we could have
+sprung out from our hiding-place and have caught hold of him, had we
+chosen to do so.
+
+This enormous unwieldy monster seemed to me so large that he resembled
+an elephant on short legs, and in the dim, mysterious moonlight I could
+almost fancy him to be one of those dreadful monsters of the
+antediluvian world of which we read so much in these days of geological
+research.  I held my breath and glanced at my comrades.  They lay
+perfectly motionless, with their eyes fixed on the animal, which
+hesitated on approaching our hillock.  My blood almost stagnated in my
+veins.  I thought that he must have observed us or smelt us, and was
+about to charge.  He was only undecided as to which side of the hillock
+he should pass by on his way to the pond.  Turning to the left, he went
+down to the water with a heavy, rolling gait, crushing the shrubs under
+his ponderous feet in a way that filled me with an exalted idea of his
+tremendous power.
+
+I breathed freely again, and felt as if a mighty load had been lifted
+off me.  From the suppressed sighs vented by my comrades, I judge that
+they also had experienced somewhat similar relief.  We had not, however,
+had time to utter a whisper before our ears were assailed by the most
+tremendous noise that we had yet heard.  It came from the opposite side
+of the pool, as if a great torrent were rushing towards us.  Presently a
+black billow seemed to burst out of the jungle and roll down the sloping
+bank of the pond.
+
+"Elephants!" exclaimed Jack.
+
+"Impossible," said I; "they must be buffaloes."
+
+At that instant they emerged into the full blaze of the moon, and showed
+themselves to be a herd of full-grown elephants, with a number of
+calves.  There could not have been fewer than one hundred on the margin
+of the pond; but from the closeness of their ranks and their incessant
+movements I found it impossible to count their numbers accurately.  This
+magnificent army began to drink and throw water about, waving their
+trunks and trumpeting shrilly at the same time with the utmost delight.
+The young ones especially seemed enjoy themselves immensely, and I
+observed that their mothers were very attentive to them, caressing them
+with their trunks and otherwise showing great fondness for their
+offspring.
+
+"I say," whispered Peterkin, "what a regiment of cavalry these fellows
+would make, mounted by gorillas armed with scythe-blades for swords and
+Highland claymores for dirks!"
+
+"Ay, and cannon-revolvers in their pockets!" added Jack.  "But, look--
+that hideous old rhinoceros.  He has been standing there for the last
+two minutes like a rock, staring intently across the water at the
+elephants."
+
+"Hush!" said I.  "Whisper softly.  He may hear us."
+
+"There goes something else on our side," whispered Peterkin, pointing to
+the right of our hillock.  "Don't you see it?  There, against the--I do
+believe it's another giraffe!"
+
+"So it is!  Keep still.  His ears are sharp," muttered Jack, examining
+the lock of his rifle.
+
+"Come, come!" said I; "no shooting, Jack.  You know we came to see, not
+to shoot."
+
+"Very true; but it's not every day one gets such a close shot at a
+giraffe.  I _must_ procure a specimen for you, Ralph."
+
+Jack smiled as he said this, and raised his rifle.  Peterkin at the same
+moment quietly raised his, saying, "If that's your game, my boy, then
+here goes at the rhinoceros.  Don't hurry your aim; we've lots of time."
+
+As I waited for the reports with breathless attention, I was much struck
+at that moment by the singularity of the circumstances in which we were
+placed.  On our left stood the rhinoceros, not fifteen yards off; on our
+right the giraffe raised his long neck above the bushes, about twenty
+yards distant, apparently uncertain whether it was safe to advance to
+the water; while in front lay the lake, reflecting the soft, clear
+moonlight, and beyond that the phalanx of elephants, enjoying themselves
+vastly.  I had but two moments to take it all in at a glance, for Jack
+said "Now!" in a low tone, and instantly the loud report of the two
+rifles thundered out upon the night air.
+
+Words cannot convey, and the reader certainly cannot conceive, any idea
+of the trumpeting, roaring, crashing, shrieking, and general hubbub that
+succeeded to the noise of our firearms.  It seemed as if the wild beasts
+of twenty menageries had simultaneously commenced to smash the woodwork
+of their cages, and to dash out upon each other in mingled fury and
+terror; for not only was the crashing of boughs and bushes and smaller
+trees quite terrific, but the thunderous tread of the large animals was
+absolutely awful.
+
+We were thoroughly scared, for, in addition to all this, from the midst
+of the horrid turmoil there came forth a royal roar close behind us that
+told of a lion having been secretly engaged in watching our proceedings;
+and we shuddered to think that, but for our firing, he might have sprung
+upon us as we lay there, little dreaming of his presence.
+
+Since our last adventure with the king of beasts, Makarooroo had
+entertained us with many anecdotes of the daring of lions, especially of
+those monsters that are termed man-eaters; so that when we heard the
+roar above referred to, we all three sprang to our feet and faced about
+with the utmost alacrity.  So intent were we on looking out for this
+dreadful foe--for we had made up our minds that it must be a man-eating
+lion--that we were utterly indifferent to the other animals.  But they
+were not indifferent to us; for the wounded rhinoceros, catching sight
+of us as we stood with our backs towards him, charged at once up the
+hillock.
+
+To utter three simultaneous yet fearfully distinct yells of terror,
+spring over the low parapet of bushes, and fly like the wind in three
+different directions, was the work of a moment.  In dashing madly down
+the slope my foot caught in a creeping shrub, and I fell heavily to the
+earth.
+
+The fall probably saved my life, for before I could rise the rhinoceros
+sprang completely over me in its headlong charge.  So narrow was my
+escape that the edge of one of its ponderous feet alighted on the first
+joint of the little finger of my left hand, and crushed it severely.
+Indeed, had the ground not been very soft, it must infallibly have
+bruised it off altogether.  The moment it had passed I jumped up, and
+turning round, ran in the opposite direction.  I had scarcely gone ten
+paces when a furious growl behind me, and the grappling sound as of two
+animals in deadly conflict, followed by a fierce howl, led me to
+conclude that the lion and the rhinoceros had unexpectedly met each
+other, and that in their brief conflict the former had come off second
+best.
+
+But I gave little heed to that.  My principal thought at that moment was
+my personal safety; so I ran on as fast as I could in the direction of
+our encampment, for which point, I had no doubt, my companions would
+also make.
+
+I had not run far when the growl of a lion, apparently in front, caused
+me to stop abruptly.  Uncertain of the exact position of the brute, I
+turned off to one side, and retreated cautiously and with as little
+noise as possible, yet with a feeling of anxiety lest he should spring
+upon me unawares.  But my next step showed me that the lion was
+otherwise engaged.  Pushing aside a few leaves that obstructed my
+vision, I suddenly beheld a lion in the midst of an open space, crouched
+as if for a spring.  Instinctively I threw forward the muzzle of my
+rifle; but a single glance showed me that his tail, not his head, was
+towards me.  On looking beyond, I observed the head and shoulders of
+Jack, who, like the lion, was also in a crouching position, staring
+fixedly in the face of his foe.  They were both perfectly motionless,
+and there could not have been more than fifteen or twenty yards between
+them.
+
+The true position of affairs at once flashed across me.  Jack in his
+flight had unwittingly run almost into the jaws of the lion; and I now
+felt convinced that this must be a second lion, for it could not have
+been the one that was disturbed by the rhinoceros, as I had been running
+directly away from the spot where these two brutes had met.  Jack had
+crouched at once.  We had often talked, over our camp-fire, of such an
+event as unexpectedly meeting a lion face to face; and Peterkin, who
+knew a good deal about such matters, had said that in such a case a
+man's only chance was to crouch and stare the lion out of countenance.
+We laughed at this; but he assured us positively that he had himself
+seen it done to tigers in India, and added that if a man turned and ran
+his destruction would be certain.  To fire straight in the face of a
+lion in such a position would be excessively dangerous; for while the
+bullet _might_ kill, it was more than probable it would glance off the
+bone of the forehead, which would be presented at an angle to the
+hunter.  The best thing to do, he said, was to stare steadily at the
+creature until it began to wince, which, if not a wounded beast, it
+would certainly do; and then, when it turned slowly round, to slink
+away, take aim at its heart, and fire instantly.
+
+The moon was shining full in Jack's face, which wore an expression of
+intense ferocity I had never before witnessed, and had not believed it
+possible that such a look could have been called up by him.  The lower
+part of his face, being shrouded in his black beard, was undiscernible;
+but his cheeks and forehead were like cold marble.  His dark brows were
+compressed so tightly that they seemed knotted, and beneath them his
+eyes glittered with an intensity that seemed to me supernatural.  Not a
+muscle moved; his gaze was fixed; and it was not difficult to fancy that
+he was actually, instead of apparently, petrified.
+
+I could not, of course, observe the visage of the lion, and, to say
+truth, I had no curiosity on that point; for just then it occurred to me
+that I was directly in the line of fire, and that if my friend missed
+the lion there was every probability of his killing me.  I was now in an
+agony of uncertainty.  I knew not what to do.  If I were to endeavour to
+get out of the way, I might perhaps cause Jack to glance aside, and so
+induce the lion to spring.  If, on the other hand, I should remain where
+I was, I might be shot.  In this dilemma it occurred to me that, as Jack
+was a good shot and the lion was very close, it was extremely unlikely
+that I should be hit; so I resolved to bide my chance, and offering up a
+silent prayer, awaited the issue.
+
+It was not long of coming.  The fixed gaze of a bold human eye cowed at
+last even the king of the woods.  The lion slowly and almost
+imperceptibly rose, and sidled gently round, with the intention,
+doubtless, of bounding into the jungle.  I saw that if it did so it
+would pass very close to me so I cocked both barrels and held my piece
+in readiness.
+
+The click of my locks attracted the lion's attention; its head turned
+slightly round.  At that instant Jack's rifle sprang to his shoulder,
+and the loud crack of its report was mingled with and drowned by the
+roar of the lion, as he sprang with a terrible bound, not past me, but
+straight towards me.  I had no time to aim, but throwing the gun quickly
+to my shoulder, drew both triggers at once.
+
+I had forgotten, in my perturbation, that I carried Peterkin's heavy
+elephant rifle, charged with an immense quantity of powder and a couple
+of six-ounce balls.  My shoulder was almost dislocated by the recoil,
+and I was fairly knocked head over heels.  A confused sound of yells and
+roars filled my ear for a moment.  I struggled to collect my faculties.
+
+"Hollo!  Jack!--Ralph! where are you?" shouted a voice that I well knew
+to be that of Peterkin.  "Hurrah I'm coming.  Don't give in!  I've
+killed him!  The rhinoceros is dead as a door-nail!  Where have you--"
+
+I heard no more, having swooned away.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
+
+STRANGE AND TERRIBLE DISCOVERIES--JACK IS MADE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF AN
+ARMY.
+
+When my consciousness returned, I found myself lying on my back beside
+our camp-fire, with my head resting on Peterkin's knee; and the first
+sound I heard was his pleasant voice, as he said--
+
+"All right, Jack; he's coming round.  I'm quite certain that no serious
+damage is done.  I know well what sort o' rap he must have got.  It'll
+bother him a little at first, but it won't last long."
+
+Comforted not a little by this assurance, I opened my eyes and looked
+up.
+
+"What has happened?"  I inquired faintly.
+
+"Ah! that's right, Ralph.  I'm glad to hear your voice again.  D'you
+know, I thought at first it was all over with you?"
+
+"Over with him!" echoed Peterkin; "it's only begun with him.  Ralph's
+days of valorous deeds are but commencing.--Here, my boy; put this flask
+to your mouth.  It's lucky I fetched it with us.  Here, drink."
+
+"No, not until you tell me what has occurred," said I, for I still felt
+confused in my brain.
+
+"Then I _won't_ tell you a word until you drink," repeated my friend, as
+he looked anxiously in my face and held the flask to my lips.
+
+I sipped a mouthful, and felt much revived.
+
+"Now," continued Peterkin, "I'll tell you what has happened.  We've
+floored a rhinoceros and a giraffe and a lion, which, to my thinking, is
+a pretty fair bag to make after dusk of a Saturday night!  And my big
+rifle has floored _you_, which is the least satisfactory part of the
+night's entertainment, but which wouldn't have occurred had you
+remembered my instructions, which you never do."
+
+"Oh, I recollect now," said I, as the spirits revived me.  "I'm all
+right.--But, Jack, I trust that you have not received damage?"
+
+"Not a scratch, I'm thankful to say; though I must confess I was near
+catching an ugly wound."
+
+"How so?"  I inquired quickly, observing a peculiar smile on Jack's face
+as he spoke.
+
+"Oh, make your mind easy," put in Peterkin; "it was just a small bit of
+an escape he made.  When you let drive at the lion so effectively, one
+of the balls went in at his mouth and smashed its way out at the back of
+his skull.  The other ball shaved his cheek, and lodged in a tree not
+two inches from Jack's nose."
+
+"You don't mean it!" cried I, starting up, regardless of the pain
+occasioned to my injured shoulder by the movement, and gazing intently
+in Jack's face.
+
+"Come, come," said he, smiling; "you must not be so reckless, Ralph.
+Lie down again, sir."
+
+"Peterkin, you should not talk lightly of so narrow an escape," said I
+reproachfully.  "The fact that such a terrible catastrophe has nearly
+occurred ought to solemnise one."
+
+"Granted, my dear boy; but the fact that such a catastrophe did _not_
+occur, ought, I hold, to make us jolly.  There's no managing a fellow
+like you, Ralph.  I knew that if I told you of this gravely, you would
+get into such a state of consternational self-reproachativeness, so to
+speak, that you would infallibly make yourself worse.  And now that I
+tell it to you `lightly,' as you call it, you take to blowing me up."
+
+I smiled as my friend said this, and held out my hand, which he grasped
+and squeezed.  Feeling at the moment overcome with drowsiness, I
+unconsciously retained it in my grasp, and thus fell sound asleep.
+
+Three days after this misadventure I was nearly as well as ever, and we
+were once more journeying by forced marches towards the south.  Two days
+more, we calculated, would bring us to Mbango's village.  As the end of
+our journey approached, we grew more desperately anxious to push
+forward, lest we should be too late to give them timely warning of the
+slave-dealer's approach.  We also became more taciturn, and I could see
+plainly that the irrepressible forebodings that filled my own heart,
+were shared by my companions.  Poor Makarooroo never spoke, save in
+reply to questions addressed pointedly to himself; and seeing the state
+of his mind, we forbore to trouble him with conversation.
+
+Yet, even while in this anxious state, I could not avoid noticing the
+singular variety and beauty of both the animal and the vegetable kingdom
+in the regions through which we passed.
+
+In one part of our journey we had to cross a portion of what is called
+desert country, but which, notwithstanding its name, was covered with
+grass, and in many places with bushes, and even trees.  Its vegetation,
+however, as compared with other parts of the country, was light; and it
+was almost entirely destitute of water, there being no rivers or
+springs; only a few pools of rain-water were to be found in the hard
+beds of ancient river-courses.  This desert land was inhabited by
+numbers of bushmen and other natives, as well as by large quantities of
+game of various kinds.  But what struck me as being most singular was
+the great variety of tuberous roots with which the region was supplied,
+and which were evidently designed by our beneficent Creator to make up
+to the inhabitants in a great degree for the want of a full supply of
+water.
+
+I also observed, with much interest, a species of plant which, like man,
+is capable of being, as it were, acclimatised.  It is not by nature a
+tuber-bearing plant; yet here it had become so, in order to be able to
+retain a sufficiency of moisture during the dry season.  Makarooroo also
+dug up for us several tuber-roots, which were the size of a large
+turnip, and filled with a most delicious juice, which, as we were much
+oppressed with thirst at the time, appeared to us like nectar.  Besides
+these, we also procured water-melons in abundance at certain spots,
+which were a great treat, not only to us, but also to elephants,
+rhinoceroses, antelopes, and many other animals, whose footprints we
+found in great numbers, and whose depredations among the water-melons
+were very evident.
+
+During the whole of this journey we made a point, as I have already
+remarked, of avoiding man; not that we were indifferent to him, but
+anxious not to be detained at that particular time.  We were very
+fortunate in this matter, for we succeeded in eluding the observation of
+the natives of many villages that we passed, in escaping others by
+flight, and in conciliating those who caught us by making them liberal
+gifts of beads.
+
+One day we came to a halt under the most magnificent tree I ever saw.
+It was a mowano tree, whose trunk consisted of six stems united in one.
+The circumference a yard or so from the ground was eighty-four feet--
+upwards of nine yards in diameter.
+
+"What a tree for a nobleman's park!" said Jack, as we gazed at it, lost
+in admiration.
+
+"Ay; and behold a gentleman worthy to take up his residence under it,"
+said Peterkin, pointing as he spoke to a living creature that sat among
+the grass near its roots.
+
+"What can it be?"  I exclaimed.
+
+"The original father of all frogs!" replied Peterkin, as he darted
+forward and killed the thing with a stick.
+
+"I believe it _is_ a frog," said Jack.
+
+We all burst into a fit of laughter, for undoubtedly it _was_ a frog,
+but certainly the largest by far that any of us had ever seen.  It was
+quite as large as a chicken!
+
+"What a shame to have killed it!" said I.  "Why did you do it?"
+
+"Shame!  It was no shame.  In the first place, I killed it because I
+wish you to make scientific inspection of it; and in the second place, I
+wanted to eat it.  Why should not we as well as Frenchmen eat frogs?  By
+the way, that reminds me that we might introduce this giant species into
+France, and thereby make our fortunes."
+
+"You greedy fellow," cried Jack, who was busying himself in lighting the
+fire, "your fortune is made already.  How many would you have?"
+
+"D'ye know, Jack, I have been in possession of my fortune, as you call
+it, so short a time that I cannot realise the fact that I have it.--
+Hollo!  Mak, what's wrong with you?"
+
+Peterkin thus addressed our guide because he came into the camp at that
+moment with a very anxious expression of countenance.
+
+"Dere hab bin fight go on here," said he, showing several broken arrows,
+stained with blood, which he had picked up near our encampment.
+
+"Ha! so there has, unless these have been shot at wild beasts," said
+Jack, examining the weapons carefully.
+
+"No, massa; no shot at wild beast.  De wild beast hab bin here too, but
+dey come for to eat mans after he dead."
+
+"Come, let us see the spot," said Jack.
+
+Makarooroo at once led the way, and we all followed him to a place not a
+hundred yards distant, where there were evident traces of a fight having
+taken place.  Jack seemed to be much distressed at the sight.
+
+"There can be no question as to the fact," he remarked as we returned to
+our fire; "and at any other time or in any other place I would have
+thought nothing of it, for we know well enough that the natives here
+often go to war with each other; but just at _this_ time, and so near to
+our friend Mbango--I fear, I fear much that that villain has been before
+us."
+
+"No been long, massa," said Makarooroo earnestly.  "If we go quick we
+ketch 'im."
+
+"We _shall_ go quick, Mak.  But in order to do that, we must eat well,
+and sleep at least an hour or so.  If we push on just now, after a hard
+day's journey, without food or rest, we shall make but slow progress;
+and even if we did come up with the slave-dealer, we should not be in a
+very fit state for a battle."
+
+This was so obvious that we all felt the wisdom of Jack's remarks; so we
+ate a hearty supper, and then lay down to rest.  Peterkin declared the
+frog to be excellent, but I could not at that time make up my mind to
+try it.
+
+An hour and a half after lying down, our guide awakened us, and we set
+forth again with recruited energies.
+
+That night the lions and hyenas roared around us more than was their
+wont, as if they were aware of our anxious condition, and were desirous
+of increasing our discomforts.  We had to keep a sharp lookout, and once
+or twice discharged our rifles in the direction of the nearest sounds,
+not in the expectation of hitting any of the animals, but for the
+purpose of scaring them away.
+
+Towards morning we came out upon an open plain, and left these evil
+prowlers of the night behind us.
+
+About daybreak we came within sight of Mbango's village, but the light
+was not sufficient to enable us to distinguish any object clearly.  Here
+again we came upon traces of war, in the shape of broken arrows and
+daggers, and human bones; for the poor wretches who had been slain had
+been at once devoured by wild beasts.
+
+Hurrying forward with intense anxiety, we reached the outskirts of the
+village; and here a scene presented itself that was well calculated to
+fill our breasts with horror and with the deepest anxiety.  Many of the
+houses had been set on fire, and were reduced to ashes.  The mangled
+corpses of human beings were seen lying here and there amongst the
+embers--some partially devoured by wild beasts, others reduced to simple
+skeletons, and their bones left to whiten on the ruins of their old
+homes.  In one place the form of a woman tied to a tree, and dreadfully
+mangled, showed that torture had been added to the other horrors of the
+attack.
+
+With feelings of mingled rage, pity, and anxiety, we hastened towards
+the hut that had been the residence of Mbango, the chief.  We found it,
+like the rest, in ruins, and among them discovered the remains of a
+child.  Recollecting the little son of our friend Njamie, Okandaga's
+guardian, I turned the body over in some anxiety; but the features were
+too much mutilated to be recognisable.
+
+"Alas! alas!"  I exclaimed, as we collected in a group round this
+remnant of a little child, "what a dreadful sight!  What an unhappy race
+of beings!  Without doubt our friends have been slain, or carried into
+captivity."
+
+Poor Makarooroo, who had been from the first going about among the ruins
+like a maniac, with a bewildered air of utter despair on his sable
+countenance, looked at me as if he hoped for a slight word that might
+reanimate hope in his bosom.  But I could give him none, for I myself
+felt hopeless.
+
+Not so, Jack.  With that buoyancy of spirit that was peculiar to him, he
+suggested many ideas that consoled our guide not a little.
+
+"You see," said he, "the rascally Portuguese trafficker in human flesh
+would naturally try to effect his object with as little bloodshed as
+possible.  He would just fight until he had conquered, not longer; and
+then he would try to take as many prisoners as he could, in order to
+carry them away into slavery.  Now, I cannot conceive it possible that
+he could catch the whole tribe."
+
+"Of course not," interrupted Peterkin; "he had a comparatively small
+party.  To take a whole tribe prisoners with such a band were
+impossible."
+
+"Ay, but you forget," said I, "that he might easily prevail on some
+other tribe to go to war along with him, and thus capture nearly the
+whole.  Yet some must have escaped into the woods, and it is probable
+that among these may have been the chief and his household.  Okandaga
+may be safe, and not far off, for all we know."
+
+The guide shook his head.
+
+"At any rate," observed Jack, "if caught they would certainly be guarded
+with care from injury; so that if we could only find out which way they
+have gone, we might pursue and attack them."
+
+"Four men attack forty or fifty!" said I despondingly.
+
+"Ay, Ralph.  Why not?" asked Peterkin.
+
+"Oh, I doubt not our pluck to do it," I replied; "but I doubt very much
+our chances of success."
+
+While we were yet speaking our attention was attracted by a low wail,
+and the appearance of some living object creeping amongst the ruins not
+far from us.  At first we thought it must be a beast of prey lurking in
+the neighbourhood of the dead, and impatient at our having interrupted
+its hideous banquet; but presently the object sat up and proved to be a
+woman.  Yet she was so covered with blood and dust, and so awfully
+haggard in appearance, that we could with difficulty believe her to be a
+human being.
+
+At first she appeared to be in ignorance of our presence.  And indeed so
+she actually was; for her whole soul was absorbed in the contemplation
+of the dead and mangled body of an infant which lay in her arms, and
+which she pressed ever and anon with frantic energy to her breast,
+uttering occasionally a wail of such heart-broken sadness that the tears
+sprang irresistibly into my eyes while I gazed upon her.  There needed
+no explanation of her tale of woe.  The poor mother had crept back to
+her hut after the fierce din of battle was over to search for her child,
+and she had found it; but ah, who can conceive the unutterable anguish
+of heart that its finding had occasioned!
+
+"Speak to her, Mak," said Peterkin, in a husky voice; "she will be less
+afraid of you, no doubt, than of us."
+
+Our guide advanced.  The slight noise he made in doing so attracted the
+poor woman's attention, and caused her to look up with a wild, quick
+glance.  The instant she saw us she leaped up with the agility of a
+leopard, clasped her dead child tightly to her breast, and uttering
+shriek upon shriek, rushed headlong into the jungle.
+
+"After her!" cried Jack, bounding forward in pursuit.  "She's our only
+chance of gaining information."
+
+We all felt the truth of this, and joined in the chase at top speed.
+But although we ran fast and well, the affrighted creature at first
+outstripped us.  Then, as we tired her out and drew near, she doubled on
+her track, and dived hither and thither among the thick underwood in a
+way that rendered it exceedingly difficult to catch her.
+
+Peterkin was the first to come up with her.  He gradually but
+perseveringly ran her down.  When he came within a few yards of her, the
+poor creature sank with a low wail to the ground, and turning half
+round, glanced at her pursuer with a timid, imploring, yet despairing
+expression.  Alas! despair mingled with it, because she knew too well
+the terrible cruelty of savage men when their blood is up, and she knew
+nothing yet of the hearts of Christians.
+
+Peterkin, whose susceptible nature was ever easily touched, felt a
+thrill of self-reproach as the thought suddenly occurred that, however
+good his intentions might be, he was in reality running a helpless woman
+down like a bloodhound.  He stopped short instantly, and acting, as on
+most occasions he did, impulsively, he threw his rifle away from him,
+unclasped his belt, and throwing it, with his hunting-knife, also away,
+sat down on the ground and held out both his hands.
+
+There was something almost ludicrous in the act, but it had the effect
+of, to some extent, relieving the poor woman's fears.  Seeing this, as
+we successively came up we all laid down our rifles, and stood before
+the crouching creature with our empty hands extended towards her, to
+show that we meant her no harm.  Still, although she seemed less
+terrified, she trembled violently, and panted from her recent exertion,
+but never for a moment relaxed her hold of the dead child.
+
+"Speak to her, Mak," said Jack, as the guide came up.  "Tell her who and
+what we are at once, to relieve her feelings; and let her know
+especially that we are the bitter enemies of the villain who has done
+this deed."
+
+While Makarooroo explained, the woman's countenance seemed to brighten
+up, and in a few minutes she began to tell with great volubility the
+events of the attack.  The trader, she said, had come suddenly on them
+in the dead of night with a large band, and had at once routed the
+warriors of the village, who were completely taken by surprise.  A few
+had escaped; but Mbango, with Okandaga and his household, had been taken
+prisoners, and carried away with many others.
+
+"How long is it since this happened?" inquired Jack.
+
+"She say two days, massa.  Den dey go off to 'tack King Jambai."
+
+"Ah! then it is too late to save him," returned Jack, in a tone of
+sadness.
+
+Our hearts sank on learning this; but on questioning the woman further,
+we found that the marauding party, deeming themselves too weak to attack
+so large a village as that of King Jambai, had talked of turning aside
+to secure the assistance of another tribe not far distant, who, they
+knew, would be too glad to pick a quarrel with that chief.
+
+"Then we shall do it yet!" cried Jack, springing up energetically.  "We
+shall be in time to warn Jambai and to save Okandaga and her friends.
+Come, Mak, cheer up; things begin to look better."
+
+The cheerful, confident voice in which our friend said this raised my
+hopes wonderfully, even although, on consideration, I could not see that
+our chances of success were very great.  Our guide was visibly
+comforted, and we stepped aside to pick up our rifles with considerable
+alacrity.
+
+During the brief period in which we were thus employed, the poor woman
+managed to creep away, and when we again looked round she was gone.  Our
+first impulse was to give chase again, but the thought of the needless
+terror which that would occasion her deterred us, and before we could
+make up our minds what to do she was almost beyond our reach, and would
+certainly have cost us an hour of search, if not longer, to find her.
+Time pressed.  To reach the village of King Jambai with the utmost
+possible speed was essential to the safety of the tribe, so we resolved
+to leave her, feeling as we did so that the poor creature could sustain
+herself on roots and berries without much difficulty or suffering until
+she reached the village of some neighbouring tribe.
+
+We now pushed on again by forced marches, travelling by night and by
+day, shooting just enough game as we required for food, and taking no
+more rest than was absolutely necessary to enable us to hold on our way.
+In a short time we reached the village, which, to our great joy, we
+found in much the same state as it was when we left it.
+
+King Jambai received us with great delight, and his people went into a
+state of immense rejoicing--firing guns, and shouting, and beating
+kettles and drums, in honour of the arrival of the "white faces;" which
+name was certainly a misnomer, seeing that our faces had by that time
+become the very reverse of white--indeed they were little lighter than
+the countenances of the good people by whom we were surrounded.
+
+But the king's consternation was very great when we told him the reason
+of our unexpected visit, and related to him the details of the terrible
+calamity that had befallen poor Mbango and his people.  He appeared
+sincerely grateful for the effort we had made to warn him of the
+impending attack, and seemed unable to express his thanks when we
+offered to aid him in the defence of his village.
+
+We now deemed this a fitting moment to tell the king boldly of our
+having assisted in the escape of Okandaga from his village, and beg his
+forgiveness.  He granted this at once, but strongly advised us to keep
+our secret quiet, and leave it to him to account to his warriors for the
+reappearance of the runaway maiden when retaken.  Of course we could
+make no objection to this, so after thanking him we entered upon a
+discussion of the best method of frustrating the slave-dealer's designs.
+
+"Tell the king," said Jack, addressing himself to our guide, "that if he
+will make me commander-in-chief of his forces, I will show him how white
+warriors manage to circumvent their enemies."
+
+"I would like much," said Peterkin, laughing, "to know how Mak will
+translate the word `circumvent.'  Your style is rather flowery, Jack,
+for such an interpreter; and upon my word, now I think of it, your
+presumption is considerable.  How do you know that _I_ do not wish to be
+commander-in-chief myself?"
+
+"I shall make over the command to you with all my heart, if you wish
+it," said Jack, smiling blandly.
+
+"Nay, I'll none of it.  However suited I may be to the work, the work is
+not suited to me, so I resign in your favour."
+
+"Well, then," said Jack, "since you decline to accept the chief command,
+I'll make you my second.  Mak shall be my _aide-de-camp_; you and Ralph
+shall be generals of divisions."
+
+"I thank you much, my honoured and honourable generalissimo; but perhaps
+before being thus liberal of your favours, it were well to ascertain
+that your own services are accepted."
+
+"That is soon done.--What says the king, Mak?"
+
+"Hims say that him's delighted to git you, an' you may doos how you
+like."
+
+"That's plain and explicit.  You see, Peterkin, that I'm fairly
+installed; so you and I will take a short walk together, and hold a
+consultation as to our plans in the approaching campaign, while Ralph
+arranges our hut and makes things comfortable."
+
+"A glorious campaign, truly, to serve in an army of baboons, led by a
+white gorilla!  I would deem it almost comical, did I not see too sure a
+probability of bloodshed before its conclusion," remarked Peterkin.
+
+"That you shall not see, if I can prevent it; and it is for the purpose
+of consulting you on that point, and claiming your services in an old
+and appropriate character, that I drag you along with me now," said
+Jack, as he rose, and, making a bow to the king, left the hut.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINETEEN.
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR WAR, AND PECULIAR DRILL.
+
+The plan which Jack and Peterkin concocted, while I was engaged in
+making the interior of our old residence as comfortable as possible, was
+as follows:--
+
+Scouts were, in the first place, to be sent out that night all over the
+country, to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy.  Then, when the
+enemy should be discovered, they were to send back one of their number
+to report; while the remainder should remain to dog their steps, if need
+be, in order to ascertain whether Mbango and Okandaga were in their
+possession, and if so, where they were kept--whether in the midst of the
+warriors or in their rear.
+
+This settled, the remainder of the warriors of the village were to be
+collected together, and a speech to be made to them by Jack, who should
+explain to them that they were to be divided into two bands: all who
+carried guns to be under the immediate charge of Jack himself; the
+others, carrying bows and spears, to be placed under me.  Peterkin was
+to act a peculiar part, which will appear in the course of narration.
+
+Having partaken of a hearty supper, we assembled the scouts, and having,
+through Makarooroo, given them their instructions, sent them away just
+as the shades of night began to fall.  We next caused a huge bonfire to
+be kindled, and round this all the men of the village assembled, to the
+extent of several hundreds.  The king soon appeared, and mounting the
+trunk of a fallen tree, made a long speech to his warriors, telling them
+of the danger that threatened them, in such vivid and lively terms that
+the greater part of them began to exhibit expressions of considerable
+uneasiness on their countenances.  He then told them of the trouble that
+we had taken, in order to give them timely warning--whereat they cast
+upon us looks of gratitude; and after that introduced Jack to them as
+their commander-in-chief, saying, that as a white man led the enemy,
+nothing could be better than that a white man should lead them to meet
+the enemy--whereat the sable warriors gave a shout of satisfaction and
+approval.
+
+Having been thus introduced, Jack mounted the trunk of the fallen tree,
+and Makarooroo got up beside him to interpret.  He began, like a wise
+diplomatist, by complimenting King Jambai, and spoke at some length on
+courage in general, and on the bravery of King Jambai's warriors in
+particular; which, of course, he took for granted.  Then he came to
+particulars, and explained as much of his intended movements as he
+deemed it good for them to know; and wound up by saying that he had
+three words of command to teach them, which they must learn to
+understand and act upon that very night.  They were, "Forward!"  "Halt!"
+and "Fire!"  By saying the first of these words very slow and in a
+drawling voice, thus, "Forw-a-a-a-a-a-rd!" and the second in a quick,
+sharp tone, and the third in a ferocious yell that caused the whole band
+to start, he actually got them to understand and distinguish the
+difference between the commands, and to act upon them in the course of
+half an hour.
+
+The drill of his army being thus completed, Jack dismissed them with a
+caution to hold themselves in readiness to answer promptly the first
+call to arms; and the king enforced the caution by quietly assuring them
+that the man who did not attend to this order, and otherwise respect and
+obey Jack as if he were the king, should have his heart, eyes, and liver
+torn out, and the rest of his carcass cast to the dogs--a threat which
+seemed to us very horrible and uncalled for, but which, nevertheless,
+was received by the black warriors with perfect indifference.
+
+"Now, Mak," said Jack, as he descended to the ground, "do you come with
+me, and help me to place sentries."
+
+"W'at be dat, massa?"
+
+"Men who are placed to guard the village from surprise during the
+night," explained Jack.
+
+"Ho! dat be de ting; me know someting 'bout dat."
+
+"No doubt you do, but I daresay you don't know the best way to place
+them; and perhaps you are not aware that the pretty little threat
+uttered by the king shall be _almost_ carried out in the case of every
+man who shall be found asleep at his post or who shall desert it."
+
+The guide grinned and followed his commander in silence, while I
+returned to our hut and busied myself in cleaning the rifles and making
+other preparations for the expected fight.
+
+At an early hour on the following morning we were awakened by the
+arrival of one of the scouts, who reported that the Portuguese trader,
+with a strong and well-armed force, was encamped on the margin of a
+small pond about fifteen miles distant from the village.  The scout had
+gone straight to the spot on being sent out, knowing that it was a
+likely place for them to encamp, if they should encamp at all.  And here
+he found them making active preparations for an attack on the village.
+Creeping like a serpent through the grass, the scout approached near
+enough to overhear their arrangements, which were to the elect that the
+attack should take place at midnight of the following day.  He observed
+that there were many prisoners in the camp--men, women, and children--
+and these were to be left behind, in charge of a small party of armed
+men; while the main body, under the immediate command of the Portuguese
+trader, should proceed to the attack of the village.
+
+From the scout's description of the prisoners, we became convinced that
+they were none other than our friends Mbango and his people, and one
+woman answering to the description of Okandaga was among them.
+
+"So, Mak, we shall save her yet," cried Jack heartily, slapping the
+shoulder of the guide, whose honest visage beamed with returning hope.
+
+"Yis, massa.  S'pose we go off dis hour and fight 'em?"
+
+"Nay; that were somewhat too hasty a movement.  `Slow but sure' must be
+our motto until night.  Then we shall pounce upon our foes like a
+leopard on his prey.  But ask the scout if that is all he has got to
+tell us."
+
+"Hims say, massa, dat hims find one leetle chile--one boy--when hims go
+away from de camp to come back to here."
+
+"A boy!" repeated Jack; "where--how?"
+
+"In de woods, where hims was trow'd to die; so de scout take him up and
+bring him to here."
+
+"Ah, poor child!" said I; "no doubt it must have been sick, and being a
+burden, has been left behind.  But stay.  How could that be possible if
+it was found between the camp and this village?"
+
+On further inquiry, we ascertained that the scout, after hearing what he
+thought enough of their arrangements, had travelled some distance beyond
+the encampment, in order to make sure that there were no other bands
+connected with the one he had left, and it was while thus engaged that
+he stumbled on the child, which seemed to be in a dying condition.
+
+"Hims say, too," continued Makarooroo, after interpreting the above
+information, "that there be one poor woman in awfable sorrow, screechin'
+and hollerowin' like one lion."
+
+"Eh?" exclaimed Peterkin.  "Describe her to us."
+
+The scout did so as well as he could.
+
+"As sure as we live," cried Peterkin, "it is our friend Njamie, and the
+child must be her boy!  Come, show us the little fellow."
+
+We all ran out and followed the scout to his hut, where we found his
+wives--for he had three of them--nursing the child as tenderly as if it
+had been their own.  It was very much wasted, evidently through want of
+food and over-fatigue; but we instantly recognised the once sturdy
+little son of Njamie in the faded little being before us.  He, too,
+recognised us, for his bright spectral eyes opened wide when he saw us.
+
+"I knew it," said I.
+
+"I told you so," cried Peterkin.--"Now, Mak, pump him, and let's hear
+what he knows."
+
+The poor child was far too much exhausted to undergo the pumping process
+referred to.  He could merely answer that Njamie and Okandaga and Mbango
+were prisoners in the camp, and then turned languidly away, as if he
+desired rest.
+
+"Poor boy!" said Peterkin tenderly, as he laid his hand gently on the
+child's woolly pate.--"Tell them, Mak, to look well after him here, and
+they shall be paid handsomely for--nay" (here he interrupted himself),
+"don't say that.  'Tis a bad thing to offer to pay for that which people
+are willing to do for love."
+
+"Right, lad," said Jack: "we can easily make these poor folk happy by
+giving them something afterwards, without saying that it is bestowed
+because of their kindness to the boy.  The proper reward of diligent
+successful labour is a prize, but the best reward of love and kindness
+is a warm, hearty recognition of their existence.--Just tell them, Mak,
+that we are glad to see them so good and attentive to the little chap.--
+And now, my generals, if it is consistent with your other engagements, I
+would be glad to have a little private consultation with you."
+
+"Ready and willing, my lord," said Peterkin, as we followed Jack towards
+the king's palace.  "But," he added seriously, "I don't like to be a
+general of _division_ at all."
+
+"Why not, Peterkin?"
+
+"Why, you see, when I was at school I found division so uncommonly
+difficult, and suffered so much, mentally and physically, in the
+learning of it, that I have a species of morbid antipathy to the very
+name.  I even intend to refuse a seat in parliament, when offered to me,
+because of the divisions that are constantly going on there.  If you
+could only make me a general of subtraction now, or--"
+
+"That," interrupted Jack, "were easily done, by deducting you from the
+force altogether, and commanding you to remain at home."
+
+"In which case," rejoined Peterkin, "I should have to become general of
+addition, by revolunteering my services, in order to prevent the whole
+expedition from resolving itself into General Muddle, whose name and
+services are well-known in all branches of military and civil service."
+
+"So that," added Jack, "it all comes to this, that you and Ralph and I
+must carry on the war by rule of three, each taking his just and
+appropriate proportion of the work to be done.  Now, to change the
+subject, there's the sun getting up, and so is the king, if I may judge
+from the stir in his majesty's household."
+
+Having begged the king to assemble his warriors together, Jack now
+proceeded to divide them into four companies, or bands, over which he
+appointed respective leaders.  All the men who possessed guns were
+assembled together in one band, numbering about one hundred and fifty
+men.  These Jack subdivided into two companies, one including a hundred,
+the other fifty men.  The remainder, constituting the main army, were
+armed with bows and arrows, spears and knives.  Of these a large force
+was told off to remain behind and guard the village.
+
+This home-guard was placed under command of the king in person.  The
+hundred musketeers were placed under Peterkin's command.  The other
+fifty were given to me, along with a hundred spear and bow men.  Jack
+himself took command of the main body of spearmen.  As Peterkin had to
+act a special and independent part, besides commanding his hundred
+musketeers, Makarooroo was made over to him, to act as lieutenant.
+
+All these arrangements and appointments were made in a cool, quiet, and
+arbitrary manner by Jack, to whom the natives, including the king,
+looked up with a species of awe amounting almost to veneration.
+
+"Now," said our commander-in-chief to Lieutenant Mak, "tell the niggers
+I am going to make them a speech," (this was received with a grunt of
+satisfaction), "and that if they wish to have the smallest chance of
+overcoming their enemies, they had better give their closest attention
+to what I have to say."
+
+Another grunt of acquiescence followed this announcement.
+
+"Say that I am going to speak to them of things so mysterious that they
+shall not by any conceivable or possible effort understand them."
+
+This being quite in accordance with the superstitions and tastes of the
+negroes, was received with eager acclamations of delight.
+
+"Tell them," continued Jack, in a deep, solemn tone, and frowning
+darkly, "that we shall gain the victory _only_ through _obedience_.
+Each man must keep his ears open and his eye on his leader, and must
+obey orders _at once_.  If the order `Halt' should be given, and any man
+should have his mouth open at the time, he must _keep_ his mouth open,
+and shut it _after_ he has halted."
+
+Here Jack took occasion to revert to the three orders, "Forward,"
+"Halt," and "Fire," and repeated the lesson several times, until his men
+were quite perfect.  Then he put the various bodies under their
+respective commanders, and telling the musketeers to make believe to
+fire (but making sure that they should not really do it, by taking their
+guns from them), he made each of us give the various words separately,
+so that our men should become familiar with our voices.
+
+This done, he called the generals of divisions to him, and said--
+
+"Now, gentlemen, I am going to review my troops, and to give them their
+final lesson in military tactics, with the double view of seeing that
+they know what they have got to do, and of impressing them with a due
+sense of the great advantage of even a slight knowledge of drill."
+
+He then directed us to take command of our several companies (Makarooroo
+being placed on this occasion over the king's band), and pointed out the
+separate directions in which we were ultimately to post our troops, so
+as to advance upon the spot on which the king stood when the signal
+should be given.  We had already taught the men the necessity of
+attacking in a compact single line, and of forming up into this position
+from what is termed Indian file, with which latter they were already
+acquainted.  Of course we could not hope to teach them the principles of
+wheeling in the short time at our command.  To overcome this difficulty,
+we told each band to follow its leader, who should walk in front; to
+advance when he advanced, to retire when he retired, and to turn this
+way or that way, according to his movements.
+
+At a signal we gave the word "Forward!" and the whole band defiled into
+the woods before the king, and disappeared like a vision, to the
+unutterable amazement of his majesty, who stood perfectly motionless,
+with eyes and mouth open to their fullest extent.
+
+Having marched together for some distance, each leader detached his men
+and led them, as it were, to opposite directions of the compass, three
+of the bands making a considerable detour, in order to get the spot
+where the king stood in the centre of us.  Then we halted and awaited
+the next signal.  In about ten minutes it was given--a loud whistle--and
+we gave the word "Forward" again.  I say "we," because the result proved
+that we had done so.  Being out of sight of the other bands, of course I
+could not see how they acted.
+
+On I rushed over brake and bush and morass, my men following me in a
+very good line, considering the nature of the ground.  I had divided
+them into four lines, with an interval of about six yards between each.
+And it was really wonderful how well they kept in that position.  The
+other companies had been ordered to act in the same way.
+
+On bursting out of the woods I saw that we had outstripped the other
+companies, so I held my men in check by running somewhat slower; and
+they had been so deeply impressed with the fatal consequences of not
+doing exactly as I did, that they stared at me with all their eyes, to
+the no small risk of their lives; for one or two dashed against trees,
+and others tumbled head over heels into holes, in their anxiety to keep
+their eyes upon me.
+
+In a few seconds I observed Peterkin spring out of the woods, followed
+by his men, so I went on again at full speed.  As we entered the
+village, our ranks were sadly broken and confused by the huts; but on
+gaining the open space where Jack stood, I was pleased to observe that
+the negroes tried, of their own accord, to regain their original
+formation, and succeeded so well that we came on in four tolerably
+straight and compact lines.  Each commander having been forewarned to
+hold his men in check, or to push forward, so as to arrive at the
+central point at the same moment, Jack, Peterkin, Makarooroo, and I ran
+in upon the king together, and unitedly gave the word "Halt!" whereupon
+we found ourselves in the centre of a solid square.
+
+So deeply had the men been impressed with the necessity of obedience
+that they had scarcely observed each other's approach.  They now stood
+rooted to the ground in every possible attitude of suddenly-arrested
+motion, and all with their eyes and mouths wide open.  In another moment
+the result of their combined movement became evident to them, and they
+uttered a yell of delighted surprise.
+
+"Very good, very good indeed," said Jack; "and that concluding yell was
+very effective--quite magnificent.--But you see," he added, turning to
+me, "although such a yell is sufficiently appalling to us, it will no
+doubt be a mere trifle to men who are used to it.  What say you to
+teaching them a British cheer?"
+
+"Absurd," said I; "they will never learn to give it properly."
+
+"I don't know that," rejoined Jack, in a doubtful manner.
+
+"Try," said Peterkin.
+
+"So I will.--Mak, tell them now that I'm going to continue the speech
+which this little review interrupted."
+
+"They's all ready for more, massa."
+
+This was patent to the meanest capacity; for the negroes stood gazing at
+their commander-in-chief with eyes and mouths and ears open, and
+nostrils expanded, as if anxious to gulp in and swallow down his words
+through every organ.
+
+"There is a cry," said Jack, "which the white man gives when he enters
+into battle--a terrible cry, which is quite different from that of the
+black man, and which is so awful that it strikes terror into the heart
+of the white man's enemies, and has even been known to make a whole army
+fly almost without a shot being fired.  We shall let you hear it."
+
+Thereupon Jack and I and Peterkin gave utterance to a cheer of the most
+vociferous description, which evidently filled the minds of the natives
+with admiration.
+
+"Now," resumed Jack, "I wish my black warriors to try that cheer--"
+
+Some of the black warriors, supposing that the expression of this wish
+was a direct invitation to them to begin, gave utterance to a terrific
+howl.
+
+"Stay! stop!" cried Jack, holding up his hand.
+
+Every mouth was closed instantly.
+
+"You must cheer by command.  I will say `Hip, hip, hip!' three times; as
+soon as I say the third `hip,' out with the cry.  Now then.  Hip, hip--"
+
+"'Popotamus," whispered Peterkin.
+
+"Hip, hurrah!" shouted Jack.
+
+"Hurl! ho! sh! kee! how!" yelled the savages, each man giving his own
+idea of our terror-inspiring British cheer.
+
+"That will do," said Jack quietly; "it is quite evident that the war-cry
+of the white man is not suited to the throat of the black.  You will
+utter your usual shout, my friends, when the signal is given; but
+_remember_, not before that.
+
+"And now I come to the greatest mystery of all."  (Every ear was eagerly
+attentive.) "The shot and bits of metal and little stones with which
+King Jambai's warriors are accustomed to kill will not do on this great
+and peculiar occasion.  They will not answer the purpose--my purpose;
+therefore I have provided a kind of bullet which every one must use
+instead of his usual shot.  No warriors ever used such bullets in the
+fight before.  They are very precious, because I have only enough of
+them to give one to each man.  But that will do.  If the enemy does not
+fly at the first discharge, then you may load with your own shot."
+
+So saying, Jack, with the utmost gravity, took from the pouch that hung
+at his side a handful of little balls of paper about the size of a
+musket bullet, which he began to distribute among the savages.  We had
+observed Jack making several hundreds of these, the night previous to
+this memorable day, out of one or two newspapers we had carried along
+with us for wadding; but he would not at that time tell us what he was
+going to do with them.  The negroes received this novel species of
+ammunition with deep interest and surprise.  Never having seen printed
+paper before, or, in all probability, paper of any kind, they were much
+taken up with the mysterious characters imprinted thereon, and no doubt
+regarded these as the cause of the supernatural power which the bullets
+were supposed to possess.
+
+"Remember," said Jack, "when these are discharged at the enemy, I do not
+say that they will kill, but I do say that they will cause the enemy to
+fly.  Only, be assured that everything depends on your _obedience_.  And
+if one single stone, or nail, or hard substance is put in along with
+these bullets, the chief part of my plans will be frustrated."
+
+It was quite evident, from the expression of their sable countenances,
+that the idea of the bullets not killing was anything but agreeable.
+They were too deeply impressed, however, with Jack's power, and too far
+committed in the enterprise, and generally too much overwhelmed with
+mingled surprise and perplexity, to offer any objection.
+
+"Now," said Jack in conclusion, "you may go and eat well.  To-night,
+when it grows dark, hold yourselves in readiness to go forth in _dead
+silence_.  Mind that: not a sound to be uttered until the signal, `Hip,
+hip, hip!' is given."
+
+"And," added Peterkin, in an undertone to Makarooroo, "tell them that
+King Jambai expects that every man will do his duty."
+
+This remark was received with a shout and a frightful display of white
+teeth, accompanied by a tremendous flourish of guns, bows, and spears.
+
+There was something quite awful, not to say picturesque, in this
+displaying of teeth, which took place many times during the course of
+the above proceedings.  You looked upon a sea of black ebony balls, each
+having two white dots with black centres near the top of it.  Suddenly
+the ebony balls were gashed across, and a sort of storm, as it were, of
+deep red mingled with pure white swept over the dark cloud of heads
+before you, and vanished as quickly as it had appeared, only to
+reappear, however, at the next stroke of humour, or at some "touch of
+that nature" which is said on very high authority, to "make the whole
+world kin."
+
+The proceedings eventually closed with a brief speech from the king, who
+referred to Peterkin's remark about each man doing his duty, and said
+that, "if each man did _not_ do his duty--" Here his majesty paused for
+a minute, and wrought his countenance into horrible contortions,
+indicative of the most excruciating agony, and wound up with an emphatic
+repetition of that dire threat about the unnatural treatment of eyes,
+heart, liver, and carcass, which had on the previous evening sounded so
+awful in our ears, and had been treated with such profound indifference
+by those whom it was specially designed to affect.
+
+"I didn't know, Jack," observed Peterkin gravely, as we returned to our
+hut, "that you were such an out-and-out humbug."
+
+"You are severe, Peterkin.  I scarcely deserve to be called a humbug for
+acting to the best of my judgment in peculiar circumstances."
+
+"Peculiar circumstances!" responded Peterkin.  "Truly they have received
+peculiar treatment!"
+
+"That is as it should be," rejoined Jack; "at any rate, be they peculiar
+or be they otherwise, our plans are settled and our mode of action
+fixed, so we must e'en abide the issue."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY.
+
+A WARLIKE EXPEDITION AND A VICTORY.
+
+It was excessively dark that night when we set forth on our expedition.
+
+The scout from whom we had already ascertained so much about the
+intended movements of the enemy also told us that they meant to set out
+at a little before midnight and march on the village by a certain route.
+Indeed, it was very unlikely that they would approach by any other, as
+the jungle elsewhere was so thick as to render marching, especially at
+night, very difficult.
+
+Jack therefore resolved to place the greater proportion of his troops in
+ambush at the mouth of a small gully or dell a few miles from the
+enemy's camp, where they were almost certain to pass.  But with a degree
+of caution that I thought highly creditable in so young and
+inexperienced a general, he sent out a considerable number of the most
+trustworthy men in advance, with instructions to proceed with the
+stealth of leopards, and to bring back instant information of any change
+of route on the part of the foe.
+
+The troops placed in ambush at the dell above referred to were
+Peterkin's hundred musketeers, supported by Jack's spear and bow men.  I
+was ordered to advance by a circuitous route on the camp itself with my
+fifty musketeers, followed by my small company of spearmen.  My
+instructions were, to conceal my men as near to the camp as possible,
+and there await the first discharge of firearms from the dell, when I
+was to rise, advance upon the camp, utter a terrific shout when within
+fifty yards, rush forward to within twenty-five yards, halt, pour in one
+withering volley of blank cartridge, and charge without giving my men
+time to load.
+
+Of course I could not speak to my men; but this was a matter of little
+consequence, as they were now well acquainted with our three words of
+command, "Forward," "Halt," and "Fire," and fully understood that they
+must under all circumstances follow their leader.  I knew well enough
+that there must be no little danger in this arrangement, because the
+leader would necessarily be always in front of the muzzles of the loaded
+guns.  But there was no help for it, so I resolved to act upon my usual
+principle--namely, that when a thing is inevitable, the best thing to do
+is to treat it as being unavoidable.
+
+Having conducted my men stealthily and successfully to the vicinity of
+the enemy's camp, though with some difficulty, owing to the almost
+impenetrable nature of the jungle through which we had to pass in making
+the detour necessary to avoid falling in with the attacking force, we
+proceeded to advance to within as short a distance of it as possible
+without running the risk of being discovered.  This was not difficult,
+for the men left to guard the camp, supposing, no doubt, that their
+presence in that part of the country was not suspected, had taken no
+precautions in the way of placing sentries; so we quickly arrived at the
+foot of a small mound about sixty yards or so from the encampment.  At
+the foot of this mound I caused my men to lie down, giving them to
+understand, by signs, that they were on no account to move until I
+should return.  Then I crept alone to the brow of the mound, and
+obtained a clear view of the camp.
+
+The men who should have guarded it were, I found, busily employed in
+cooking their supper.  There were, perhaps, upwards of a hundred of
+them.  To my great satisfaction, I observed the captives sitting near to
+the fire; and although at so considerable a distance from them, I felt
+certain that I recognised the figures of Mbango and Okandaga.  Hastening
+back to my men, I endeavoured to give them as much information as
+possible by means of signs, and then lay down beside them to await the
+signal from Jack's party.
+
+Although the attack of both our parties was to be simultaneous, the
+first shot was to be fired by our troops in the dell.  I will therefore
+describe their part of the engagement first.  Jack described it to me
+minutely after all was over.
+
+On reaching the dell Jack disposed his forces so as to command the only
+approach to it.  The hundred musketeers he placed in a double row
+directly across the deepest and darkest part.  The spearmen he divided
+into two bodies, which he posted on the flanks of the musketeers among
+the bushes.  He then showed the rear rank of the latter how to point
+their pieces over the shoulders of the men in the front rank at a given
+signal, but carefully reiterated the order not to touch a trigger until
+the word "Fire" should be given.
+
+"Now, Peterkin," said Jack, when these dispositions had been made, "it
+is time for you to get ready.  Makarooroo and I can manage these
+fellows, so you have my permission to go and play your own independent
+part.  Only let me warn you to remember your last exploit in this way,
+and see that you don't do yourself a damage."
+
+"Thanks, noble general, for the permission," answered Peterkin, "of
+which I shall avail myself.  In reference to your advice, I may remark
+that it is exceedingly valuable--so much so, indeed, that I would advise
+you not to part with it until asked for."
+
+With that Peterkin ran into the jungle, and was soon lost to view.
+
+On gaining a sufficient distance from the men, he took off the greater
+part of his clothes, and wound round his person several pieces of
+light-coloured cotton that he chanced to have with him, and some pieces
+of old newspaper.  Then he decked his head with leaves and ragged
+branches, as he had done before in the haunted cave, making himself, in
+short, as wild and fantastic a looking creature as possible--the only
+difference between his getting-up on this and the former occasion being
+that he was white instead of black.  For he wisely judged that a white
+demon must naturally appear infinitely more appalling and horrible to a
+negro than one of his own colour.
+
+The two cones of moistened powder, however, which he had prepared for
+this occasion, were very much larger than the former, and had been
+fitted into two wooden handles, or cups, for safety.  With these in his
+hands, he crept to the top of a steep, sloping mound or hill near the
+entrance to the dell, and considerably in advance of the troops.  Here
+he sat down to await the approach of the enemy.
+
+There is something very eerie and awe-inspiring in a solitary
+night-watch, especially if it be kept in a wild, lonesome place.
+Peterkin afterwards told me that, while sitting that night on the top of
+the mound, looking out upon a plain, over which the enemy were expected
+to approach, on the one hand, and down into the dark dell where our
+troops were posted, on the other hand, his heart more than once misgave
+him; and he could not help asking himself the questions, "What if our
+plans miscarry?  What if our united volley and cheer, and my demoniac
+display, should fail to intimidate the negroes?"  Such questions he did
+not like to dwell upon, for he knew that in the event of failure a
+regular pitched battle would be fought, and much blood would certainly
+flow.
+
+While indulging in such thoughts, he observed a dark form glide past the
+foot of the mound on which he lay, and vanish in the obscurity of the
+dell, which was so surrounded by crags and rocky places covered with
+underwood that no light could penetrate into it.  At first he was
+startled, and thought of giving the alarm to his comrades; but on second
+thoughts he concluded the person must have been one of his own scouts
+returned with news; at all events, he felt that one man could do no harm
+worth speaking of to so large a party.
+
+Presently he observed a large band of men coming over the plain towards
+the entrance of the dell.  These, he felt assured, must be the enemy;
+and he was right.  They came on in a large, compact body, and were
+well-armed; yet, from the quick and unguarded manner of their approach,
+he could perceive that they suspected no ambush.
+
+They entered the dell in a confused though solid and silent body; and
+Peterkin could observe, by the dim light, that they were led by one man,
+who walked in advance, whom he rightly judged to be the Portuguese
+slave-dealer.
+
+The time for action had now come.  He examined the points of his
+powder-cones, to ascertain that they were dry, then held a match in
+readiness, and listened intently to the footsteps of the foe.
+
+I have already explained that Jack had drawn his musketeers across the
+dell, and placed the spearmen in the jungle on both flanks.  They were
+arranged in such a way as to form three sides of a square, into which
+the unsuspecting enemy now marched.  Jack allowed them to approach to
+within thirty paces of his musketeers, and then gave, in a loud, deep,
+sonorous tone, the word--"Hip! hip! hip!"
+
+The compound cheer and yell that instantly followed the last hip was so
+tremendous, coming, as it did, from all sides except the rear, that the
+enemy were absolutely paralysed.  They stood rooted to the earth, as
+motionless as if they had been transformed into stone.
+
+Jack raised his hand, in which he held a bunch of white grass that could
+be distinctly seen in the dark.
+
+Every muzzle was pointed on the instant, but not a sound was heard save
+the click of a hundred locks.
+
+The sound was familiar to the enemy, although never before heard at one
+moment in such numbers.  They started; but before a step could be taken,
+the word "Fire" was given.
+
+Instantly a sheet of flame swept across the entire dell, and the united
+crash of a hundred guns seemed to rend the very earth.  The surrounding
+cliffs reverberated and multiplied the horrid din, while, led by Jack,
+cheer followed cheer, or rather howls and yells filled the air, and kept
+awake the echoes of the place.
+
+The enemy turned and fled, and the shrieks to which they gave utterance
+as they ran betokened the extremity of their terror.  It wanted but one
+touch to complete their consternation, and that touch was given when
+Peterkin, lighting his powder-cones, showed himself on the mound,
+dancing in a blaze of fire, and shrieking furiously as the horrified
+tide of men swept by.
+
+In the midst of his wild orgies, Peterkin acted an impromptu and
+unintentional part by tripping over the brow of the hill, and rolling
+down the steep declivity like a fire-wheel into the very midst of the
+flying crew.  Jumping hastily up, he charged through the ranks of the
+foe, flung the two hissing cones high into the air, and darting into the
+jungle, hid himself effectually from view.
+
+Meanwhile Jack still held the bunch of white straw aloft.  Every eye was
+fixed on it, but not a man moved, because it remained stationary.  This
+absence of pursuit in the midst of such appalling sights and sounds
+must, undoubtedly, have added to the mystery and therefore to the
+terrors of the scene.
+
+Suddenly the white bunch was seen to dart forward.  Jack, who now
+considered the enemy almost beyond the chance of being overtaken, gave
+the word, "Forward!" in the voice of a Stentor, following it up with
+"Hip, hip, hurrah!" and the whole host, musketeers and spearmen in a
+mingled mass, rushed yelling out upon the plain, and gave chase to the
+foe.
+
+"Not so badly done," said Jack, with a quiet laugh, as he laid his hand
+on Peterkin's shoulder.
+
+"Why, Jack, how did you find me out?"
+
+"Easily enough, when it is considered that I saw you go in.  The flame
+of your wild-fire indicated your movements pretty plainly to me,
+although terror and amazement no doubt blinded the eyes of every one
+else.  Even Mak's teeth began to chatter when he saw you perform that
+singular descent of the hill, and no wonder.  I hope no bones have been
+broken?"
+
+"No; all right as far as that goes," replied Peterkin within a laugh;
+"but I've lost a good deal of skin.  However, it'll grow again.  I'm
+glad it's no worse.  But I say, Jack, do you think our fellows won't
+overtake these rascals?"
+
+"No fear of that.  I took care to give them a good start, and if there
+be any truth in the generally received idea that terror lends wings, I'm
+pretty sure that each man in the enemy's ranks must have obtained the
+loan of several pairs to-night.  But have you heard the sound of Ralph's
+guns?"
+
+"No; the din here was enough to drown anything so distant."
+
+"Well, we must away to him as fast as we can.  I expect that poor Mak is
+off before us."
+
+"But you'll wait until I put on my clothes?" said Peterkin, hasting back
+towards the place where he had undressed.
+
+"Certainly, lad; only look alive."
+
+Soon afterwards they left the place together.
+
+While this was going on at the dell, I, on hearing the first shot, gave
+the word "Forward!" in a low tone.  My men instantly rose and followed
+me, and I could not, even at that anxious moment, help admiring the
+serpent-like facility with which they glided from bush to bush, without
+the slightest noise.  We descended a hill, crossed a small brook, and
+approached to within thirty yards of the camp without being discovered.
+
+Suddenly I leaped on the top of a hillock, and shouted at the utmost
+pitch of my voice the single word "Halt!"
+
+On hearing it all the men in the camp sprang to their arms, and stood
+gazing round them with looks of consternation.
+
+My next word was, "Fire!"
+
+A firm, tremendous crash burst from among the bushes, and my single
+person, enveloped in smoke and flame, was, I believe, the only object
+visible to those in the camp.
+
+"Hip, hip, hip, hurrah! forward!"  I shouted; and with a ferocious yell
+we poured like a whirlwind upon the foe.
+
+The same result that had occurred at the dell took place here.  The
+enemy never awaited our charge.  They fled instantly, and so great was
+their terror that they actually threw down their arms, in order to
+facilitate their flight.
+
+On gaining the camp, however, I found, to my sorrow, that we had done
+the thing only too vigorously; for we had not only put the enemy to
+flight, but we had also frightened away those whom we had come to
+deliver!
+
+At this point in the engagement I came to learn how incompetent I was to
+command men in cases of emergency, for here my presence of mind utterly
+forsook me.  In my anxiety to capture Mbango and his friends I ordered
+an immediate pursuit.  Then it occurred to me that, in the event of my
+men being successful in overtaking the fugitives, they would instantly
+murder them all, so I tried to call them back; but, alas! they did not
+understand my words, and they were by this time so excited as to be
+beyond all restraint.  In a few minutes I found myself left alone in the
+enemy's camp, and heard the shouts of pursued and pursuers growing
+gradually fainter and more distant, as they scattered themselves through
+the jungle.
+
+Seating myself by the fire in a state of mind bordering on despair, I
+buried my face in my hands, and endeavoured to collect myself, and
+consider what, under the circumstances, should be now done.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
+
+ARRANGEMENTS FOR PURSUING THE ENEMY, AND SUDDEN CHANGE OF PLANS.
+
+"You seem to be taking it easy, old boy," said a voice close to my
+elbow.
+
+I started, and looked up hastily.
+
+"Ah!  Peterkin.  You there?"
+
+"Ay; and may I not reply, with some surprise, _you here_?"
+
+"Truly you may,--but what could I do?  The men ran away from me, whether
+I would or no; and you are aware I could not make myself understood, not
+being able to--But where is Jack?"
+
+I asked this abruptly, because it occurred to me at that moment that he
+and Peterkin should have been together.
+
+"Where is Jack?" echoed Peterkin; "I may ask that of you, for I am
+ignorant on the point.  He and I got separated in endeavouring to escape
+from the scrimmage caused by your valiant attack.  You seem to have
+scattered the whole force to the winds.  Oh, here he is, and Mak along
+with him."
+
+Jack and our guide came running into the camp at that moment.
+
+"Well, Ralph, what of Okandaga?"
+
+"Ah! what of her indeed?" said Peterkin.  "I forgot her.  You don't moan
+to say she was not in the camp?"
+
+"Indeed she was," said I, "and so were Mbango, and his wife Njamie, and
+one or two others whom I did not know; but my men went at them with such
+ferocity that they fled along with our enemies."
+
+"Fled!" cried Jack.
+
+"Ay; and I fear much that it will fare ill with them if they are
+overtaken, for the men were wild with excitement and passion."
+
+"Come, this must be looked to," cried Jack, seizing his rifle and
+tightening his belt; "we must follow, for if they escape our hands they
+will certainly be retaken by their former captors."
+
+We followed our comrade, without further remark, in the direction of the
+fugitives; but although we ran fast and long, we failed to come up with
+them.  For two hours did we dash through bush and brake, jungle and
+morass, led by Makarooroo, and lighted by the pale beams of the moon.
+Then we came to a halt, and sat down to consult.
+
+"Dem be gone," said our wretched guide, whose cup of happiness was thus
+dashed from his hand just as he was about to raise it to his lips.
+
+"Now, don't look so dismal, Mak," cried Peterkin, slapping the man on
+the shoulder.  "You may depend upon it, we will hunt her up somehow or
+other.  Only let us keep stout hearts, and we can do anything."
+
+"Very easily said, Master Peterkin," observed Jack; "but what course do
+you propose we should follow just now?"
+
+"Collect our scattered men; go back to the village; have a palaver with
+King Jambai and his chiefs; get up a pursuit, and run the foxes to
+earth."
+
+"And suppose," said Jack, "that you don't know in which direction they
+have fled, how can we pursue them?"
+
+"It is very easy to suppose all manner of difficulties," retorted
+Peterkin.  "If you have a better plan, out with it."
+
+"I have no better plan, but I have a slight addition to make to yours,
+which is, that when we collect a few of our men, I shall send them out
+to every point of the compass, to make tracks like the spokes of a
+wheel, of which the village shall be the centre; and by that means we
+shall be pretty certain to get information ere long as to the
+whereabouts of our fugitives.  So now let us be up and doing; time is
+precious to-night."
+
+In accordance with this plan, we rapidly retraced our steps to the dell,
+which had been appointed as our place of rendezvous.  Here we found the
+greater part of our men assembled; and so well-timed had Jack's
+movements been, that not one of them all had been able to overtake or
+slay a single enemy.  Thus, by able generalship, had Jack gained a
+complete and bloodless victory.
+
+Having detached and sent off our scouts--who, besides being picked men,
+travelled without any other encumbrance than their arms--we resumed our
+journey homeward, and reached the village not long after sunrise, to the
+immense surprise of Jambai, who could scarcely believe that we had
+routed the enemy so completely, and whose scepticism was further
+increased by the total, and to him unaccountable, absence of prisoners,
+or of any other trophies of our success in the fight.  But Jack made a
+public speech, of such an elaborate, deeply mysterious, and totally
+incomprehensible character, that even Makarooroo, who translated,
+listened and spoke with the deepest reverence and wonder; and when he
+had concluded, there was evidently a firm impression on the minds of the
+natives that this victory was--by some means or in some way or other
+quite inexplicable but highly satisfactory--the greatest they had ever
+achieved.
+
+The king at once agreed to Jack's proposal that a grand pursuit should
+take place, to commence the instant news should be brought in by the
+scouts.  But the news, when it did come, had the effect of totally
+altering our plans.
+
+The first scout who returned told us that he had fallen in with a large
+body of the enemy encamped on the margin of a small pond.  Creeping like
+a snake through the grass, he succeeded in getting near enough to
+overhear the conversation, from which he gathered two important pieces
+of information--namely, that they meant to return to their own lands in
+a north-easterly direction, and that their prisoners had escaped by
+means of a canoe which they found on the banks of the river that flowed
+past King Jambai's village.
+
+The first piece of information decided the king to assemble his
+followers, and go off in pursuit of them at once; the second piece of
+news determined us to obtain a canoe and follow Mbango and his
+companions to the sea-coast, whither, from all that we heard, we
+concluded they must certainly have gone.  As this, however, was a
+journey of many weeks, we had to take the matter into serious
+consideration.
+
+"It is quite evident," said Jack, as we sat over our supper on the night
+after receiving the above news--"it is quite evident that they mean to
+go to the coast, for Mbango had often expressed to Mak a wish to go
+there; and the mere fact of their having been seen to escape and take
+down stream, is in itself pretty strong evidence that they did not mean
+to return to their now desolated village, seeing that the country behind
+them is swarming with enemies; and of course they cannot know that we
+have conquered the main body of these rascals.  I therefore propose that
+we should procure a canoe and follow them: first, because we must at all
+hazards get hold of poor Okandaga, and relieve the anxiety of our
+faithful guide Makarooroo; and second, because it is just as well to go
+in that direction as in any other, in order to meet with wild animals,
+and see the wonders of this land."
+
+"But what if King Jambai takes it into his black woolly head to decline
+to let us go?" said Peterkin.
+
+"In that case we must take French leave of him."
+
+"In which case," said I, in some alarm, "all my specimens of natural
+history will be lost."
+
+Jack received this remark with a shake of his head and a look of great
+perplexity; and Peterkin said, "Ah, Ralph, I fear there's no help for
+it.  You must make up your mind to say good-bye to your mummies--big
+puggies and all."
+
+"But you do not know," said I energetically, "that Jambai will detain us
+against our will."
+
+"Certainly not," replied Jack; "and for your sake I hope that he will
+not.  At any rate I will go to see him about this point after supper.
+It's of no use presenting a petition either to king, lord, or common
+while his stomach is empty.  But there is another thing that perplexes
+me: that poor sick child, Njamie's son, must not be left behind.  The
+poor distracted mother has no doubt given him up for lost.  It will be
+like getting him back from the grave."
+
+"True," said I; "we must take him with us.  Yet I fear he is too ill to
+travel, and we cannot await his recovery."
+
+"He is not so ill as he seemed," observed Peterkin.  "I went to see him
+only half an hour ago, and the little chap was quite hearty, and glad to
+see me.  The fact is, he has been ill-used and ill-fed.  The rest and
+good treatment he has received have, even in the short time he has been
+here, quite revived him."
+
+"Good," said Jack; "then he shall go with us.  I'll engage to take him
+on my back when he knocks up on the march--for we have a march before
+us, as I shall presently explain--and when we get into a canoe he will
+be able to rest."
+
+"But what march do you refer to?"  I asked.
+
+"Simply this.  Mak, with whom I have had a good deal of conversation on
+the subject, tells me that the river makes a considerable bend below
+this village, and that by taking a short cut of a day's journey or so
+over land we can save time, and will reach a small hamlet where canoes
+are to be had.  The way, to be sure, is through rather a wild country;
+but that to us is an advantage, as we shall be the more likely to meet
+with game.  I find, also, that the king has determined to follow the
+same route with his warriors in pursuit of the enemy, so that thus far
+we may travel together.  At the hamlet we will diverge to the
+north-east, while we, if all goes well, embarking in our canoe, will
+proceed toward the west coast, where, if we do not overtake them on the
+way, we shall be certain to find them on our arrival.  Okandaga has
+often longed to go to the mission station there, and as she knows it is
+in vain to urge Mbango to return to his destroyed village, she will
+doubtless advise him to go to the coast."
+
+"What you say seems highly probable," said I; "and I think the best
+thing you can do is to go to the king at once and talk him over."
+
+"Trust Jack for that," added Peterkin, who was at that moment deeply
+engaged with what he called the drumstick of a roast monkey.  "Jack
+would talk over any creature with life, so persuasive is his eloquence.
+I say, Ralph," he added, holding the half-picked drumstick at arm's
+length, and regarding it with a critical gaze, "I wonder, now, how the
+drumstick of an ostrich would taste.  Good, I have no doubt, though
+rather large for one man's dinner."
+
+"It would be almost equal to gorilla ham, I should fancy," said Jack, as
+he left the hut on his errand to the king.
+
+"O you cannibal, to think of such a thing!" cried Peterkin, throwing the
+bone of his drumstick after our retreating comrade.--"But 'tis always
+thus," he added, with a sigh: "man preys upon man, monkey upon monkey.
+Yet I had hoped better things of Jack.  I had believed him to be at
+least a refined species of gorilla.  I say, Ralph, what makes you look
+so lugubrious?"
+
+"The difficulties, I suppose, that beset our path," said I sadly; for,
+to say truth, I did not feel in a jesting humour just then.  I was
+forced, however, in spite of myself, to laugh at the expression of
+mingled disgust and surprise that overspread the mobile countenance of
+my friend on hearing my reply.
+
+"`The difficulties,'" echoed he, "`that beset our path!'  Really, Ralph,
+life will become insupportable to me if you and Jack go on in this
+fashion.  A man of nerve and sanguine temperament might stand it, but to
+one like me, of a naturally timid and leaning nature, with the addition
+of low spirits, it is really crushing--quite crushing."
+
+I laughed, and replied that he must just submit to be crushed, as it was
+impossible for Jack and me to change our dispositions to suit his
+convenience; whereupon he sighed, lighted his pipe, and began to smoke
+vehemently.
+
+In the course of little more than an hour Jack returned, accompanied by
+Makarooroo, and from the satisfied expression of their faces I judged
+that they had been successful.
+
+"Ah!  I see; it's all right," said Peterkin, raising himself on one
+elbow as they entered the hut and seated themselves beside the fire.
+"Old Jambai has been `talked over.'"
+
+"Right; but he needed a deal of talk--he was horribly obstinate," said
+Jack.
+
+"Ho, yis; ho! ho! horribubly obsterlate," added Makarooroo in
+corroboration, rubbing his hands and holding his nose slyly over the
+bowl of Peterkin's pipe, in order to enjoy, as it were, a second-hand
+whiff.
+
+"Here, there's a bit for yourself, old boy.  Sit down and enjoy yourself
+while Jack tells us all about his interview with royalty," said
+Peterkin, handing a lump of tobacco to our guide, whose eyes glistened
+and white teeth gleamed as he received the much-prized gift.
+
+Jack now explained to us that he had found the king in a happy state of
+satiety, smoking in his very curious and uneasy-looking easy-chair; that
+he had at first begged and entreated him (Jack) to stay and take command
+of his warriors, and had followed up his entreaties with a hint that it
+was just possible he might adopt stronger measures if entreaty failed.
+
+To this Jack replied in a long speech, in which he pointed out the
+impossibility of our complying with the king's request under present
+circumstances, and the absolute necessity of our returning at some
+period or other to our native land to tell our people of the wonders we
+had seen in the great country of King Jambai.  Observing that his
+arguments did not make much impression on the king, he brought up his
+reserve force to the attack, and offered all the remainder of our goods
+as a free gift to his majesty, stipulating only that he (the king)
+should, in consideration thereof, carefully send our boxes of specimens
+down to the coast, where the messengers, on arriving, should be
+handsomely paid if everything should arrive safely and in good order.
+
+These liberal offers had a visible influence on the sable monarch, whose
+pipe indicated the state of his mind pretty clearly--thin wreaths of
+smoke issuing therefrom when he did not sympathise with Jack's
+reasoning, and thick voluminous clouds revolving about his woolly head,
+and involving him, as it were, in a veil of gauze, when he became
+pleasantly impressed.  When Jack made mention of the valuable gifts
+above referred to, his head and shoulders were indistinctly visible amid
+the white cloudlets; and when he further offered to supply him with a
+few hundreds of the magical paper balls that had so effectually defeated
+his enemies the day before, the upper part of his person was obliterated
+altogether in smoke.
+
+This last offer of Jack's we deemed a great stroke of politic wisdom,
+for thereby he secured that the pending war should be marked by the
+shedding of less blood than is normal in such cases.  He endeavoured
+further to secure this end by assuring the king that the balls would be
+useless for the purpose for which they were made if any other substance
+should be put into the gun along with them, and that they would only
+accomplish the great end of putting the enemy to flight if fired at them
+in one tremendous volley at a time when the foe had no idea of the
+presence of an enemy.
+
+All things being thus amicably arranged, we retired to rest, and slept
+soundly until daybreak, when we were awakened by the busy sounds of
+preparation in the village for the intended pursuit.
+
+We, too, made active arrangements for a start, and soon after were
+trooping over the plains and through the jungle in the rear of King
+Jambai's army, laden with such things as we required for our journey to
+the coast, and Jack, besides his proportion of our food, bedding,
+cooking utensils, etcetera, carrying Njamie's little sick boy on his
+broad shoulders.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
+
+WE MEET WITH A LUDICROUSLY AWFUL ADVENTURE.
+
+The day following that on which we set out from King Jambai's village,
+as narrated in the last chapter, Jack, Peterkin, Makarooroo, Njamie's
+little boy, and I embarked in a small canoe, and bidding adieu to our
+hospitable friends, set out on our return journey to the coast.
+
+We determined to proceed thither by another branch of the river which
+would take us through a totally new, and in some respects different,
+country from that in which we had already travelled, and which, in the
+course of a few weeks, would carry us again into the neighbourhood of
+the gorilla country.
+
+One beautiful afternoon, about a week after parting from our friends, we
+met with an adventure in which the serious and the comic were strangely
+mingled.  Feeling somewhat fatigued after a long spell at our paddles,
+and being anxious to procure a monkey or a deer, as we had run short of
+food, we put ashore, and made our encampment on the banks of the river.
+This done, we each sallied out in different directions, leaving
+Makarooroo in charge of the camp.
+
+For some time I wandered about the woods in quest of game, but although
+I fired at many animals that were good for food, I missed them all, and
+was unwillingly compelled to return empty-handed.  On my way back, and
+while yet several miles distant from the camp, I met Jack, who had
+several fat birds of the grouse species hanging at his girdle.
+
+"I am glad to see that you have been more successful than I, Jack," said
+I, as we met.
+
+"Yet I have not much to boast of," he replied.  "It is to be hoped that
+Peterkin has had better luck.  Have you seen him?"
+
+"No; I have not even heard him fire a shot."
+
+"Well, let us go on.  Doubtless he will make his appearance in good
+time.  What say you to following the course of this brook?  I have no
+doubt it will guide us to the vicinity of our camp, and the ground
+immediately to the left of it seems pretty clear of jungle."
+
+"Agreed," said I; and for the next ten minutes or so we walked beside
+each other in silence.  Suddenly our footsteps were arrested by a low
+peculiar noise.
+
+"Hark! is that a human voice?" whispered Jack, as he cocked his rifle.
+
+"It sounds like it," said I.
+
+At the same moment we heard some branches in an opposite direction
+crack, as if they had been broken by a heavy tread.  Immediately after,
+the first sound became louder and more distinct.  Jack looked at me in
+surprise, and gradually a peculiar smile overspread his face.
+
+"It's Peterkin," said I, in a low whisper.
+
+My companion nodded, and half-cocking our pieces, we advanced with slow
+and cautious steps towards the spot whence the sound had come.  The
+gurgling noise of the brook prevented us from hearing as well as usual,
+so it was not until we were close upon the bushes that fringed the banks
+of the streamlet that we clearly discerned the tones of Peterkin's voice
+in conversation with some one, who, however, seemed to make no reply to
+his remarks.  At first I thought he must be talking to himself, but in
+this I was mistaken.
+
+"Let's listen for a minute or two," whispered my companion, with a broad
+grin.
+
+I nodded assent, and advancing cautiously, we peeped over the bushes.
+The sight that met our eyes was so irresistibly comic that we could
+scarcely restrain our laughter.
+
+On a soft grassy spot, close to the warbling stream, lay our friend
+Peterkin, on his breast, resting on his elbows, and the forefinger of
+his right hand raised.  Before him, not more than six inches from his
+nose, sat the most gigantic frog I ever beheld, looking inordinately fat
+and intensely stupid.  My memory instantly flew back to the scene on the
+coral island where Jack and I had caught our friend holding a quiet
+conversation with the old cat, and I laughed internally as I thought on
+the proverb, "The boy is the father of the man."
+
+"Frog," said Peterkin, in a low, earnest voice, at the same time shaking
+his finger slowly and fixing his eyes on the plethoric creature before
+him--"frog, you may believe it or not as you please, but I do solemnly
+assure you that I never did behold such a great, big, fat monster as you
+are in all--my--life!  What do you mean by it?"
+
+As the frog made no reply to this question, but merely kept up an
+incessant puffing motion in its throat, Peterkin continued--
+
+"Now, frog, answer me this one question--and mind that you don't tell
+lies--you may not be aware of it, but you can't plead ignorance, for I
+now tell you that it is exceedingly wicked to tell lies, whether you be
+a frog or only a boy.  Now, tell me, did you ever read `Aesop's
+Fables?'"
+
+The frog continued to puff, but otherwise took no notice of its
+questioner.  I could not help fancying that it was beginning to look
+sulky at being thus catechised.
+
+"What, you won't speak!  Well, I'll answer for you: you have _not_ read
+`Aesop's Fables;' if you had you would not go on blowing yourself up in
+that way.  I'm only a little man, it's true--more's the pity--but if you
+imagine that by blowing and puffing like that you can ever come to blow
+up as big as me, you'll find yourself mistaken.  You can't do it, so you
+needn't try.  You'll only give yourself rheumatism.  Now, _will_ you
+stop?  If you won't stop you'll burst--there."
+
+Peterkin paused here, and for some time continued to gaze intently in
+the face of his new friend.  Presently he began again--
+
+"Frog, what are you thinking of?  Do you ever think?  I don't believe
+you do.  Tightened up as you seem to be with wind or fat or conceit, if
+you were to attempt to think the effort would crack your skin, so you'd
+better not try.  But, after all, you've some good points about you.  If
+it were not that you would become vain I would tell you that you've got
+a very good pair of bright eyes, and a pretty mottled skin, and that
+you're at least the size of a big chicken--not a plucked but a
+full-fledged chicken.  But, O frog, you've got a horribly ugly big
+mouth, and you're too fat--a great deal too fat for elegance; though I
+have no doubt it's comfortable.  Most fat people are comfortable.  Oh!
+you would, would you?"
+
+This last exclamation was caused by the frog making a lazy leap to one
+side, tumbling heavily over on its back, and rolling clumsily on to its
+legs again, as if it wished to escape from its tormentor, but had
+scarcely vigour enough to make the effort.  Peterkin quietly lifted it
+up and placed it deliberately before him again in the same attitude as
+before.
+
+"Don't try that again, old boy," said he, shaking his finger
+threateningly and frowning severely, "else I'll be obliged to give you a
+poke in the nose.  I wonder, now, Frog, if you ever had a mother, or if
+you only grew out of the earth like a plant.  Tell me, were you ever
+dandled in a mother's arms?  Do you know anything of maternal affection,
+eh?  Humph!  I suspect not.  You would not look so besottedly stupid if
+you did.  I tell you what it is, old fellow: you're uncommonly bad
+company, and I've a good mind to ram my knife through you, and carry you
+into camp to my friend Ralph Rover, who'll skin and stuff you to such an
+extent that your own mother wouldn't know you, and carry you to England,
+and place you in a museum under a glass case, to be gazed at by nurses,
+and stared at by children, and philosophised about by learned
+professors.  Hollo! none o' that now.  Come, poor beast; I didn't mean
+to frighten you.  There, sit still, and don't oblige me to stick you up
+again, and I'll not take you to Ralph."
+
+The poor frog, which had made another attempt to escape, gazed vacantly
+at Peterkin again without moving, except in regard to the puffing before
+referred to.
+
+"Now, frog, I'll have to bid you good afternoon.  I'm sorry that time
+and circumstance necessitate our separation, but I'm glad that I have
+had the pleasure of meeting with you.  Glad and sorry, frog, in the same
+breath!  Did you ever philosophise on that point, eh?  Is it possible,
+think you, to be glad and sorry at one and the same moment?  No doubt a
+creature like you, with such a very small intellect, if indeed you have
+any at all, will say that it is not possible.  But I know better.  Why,
+what do you call hysterics?  Ain't that laughing and crying at once--
+sorrow and joy mixed?  I don't believe you understand a word that I say.
+You great puffing blockhead, what are you staring at?"
+
+The frog, as before, refused to make any reply; so our friend lay for
+some time chuckling and making faces at it.  While thus engaged he
+happened to look up, and to our surprise as well as alarm we observed
+that he suddenly turned as pale as death.
+
+To cock our rifles, and take a step forward so as to obtain a view in
+the direction in which he was gazing with a fixed and horrified stare,
+was our immediate impulse.  The object that met our eyes on clearing the
+bushes was indeed well calculated to strike terror into the stoutest
+heart; for there, not three yards distant from the spot on which our
+friend lay, and partially concealed by foliage, stood a large black
+rhinoceros.  It seemed to have just approached at that moment, and had
+been suddenly arrested, if not surprised, by the vision of Peterkin and
+the frog.  There was something inexpressibly horrible in the sight of
+the great block of a head, with its mischievous-looking eyes, ungainly
+snout, and ponderous horn, in such close proximity to our friend.  How
+it had got so near without its heavy tread being heard I cannot tell,
+unless it were that the noise of the turbulent brook had drowned the
+sound.
+
+But we had no time either for speculation or contemplation.  Both Jack
+and I instantly took aim--he at the shoulder, as he afterwards told me;
+I at the monster's eye, into which, with, I am bound to confess, my
+usual precipitancy, I discharged both barrels.
+
+The report seemed to have the effect of arousing Peterkin out of his
+state of fascination, for he sprang up and darted towards us.  At the
+same instant the wounded rhinoceros crossed the spot which he had left
+with a terrific rush, and bursting through the bushes as if it had been
+a great rock falling from a mountain cliff, went headlong into the
+rivulet.
+
+Without moving from the spot on which we stood, we recharged our pieces
+with a degree of celerity that, I am persuaded, we never before
+equalled.  Peterkin at the same time caught up his rifle, which leaned
+against a tree hard by, and only a few seconds elapsed after the fall of
+the monster into the river ere we were upon its banks ready for another
+shot.
+
+The portion of the bank of the stream at this spot happened to be rather
+steep, so that the rhinoceros, on regaining his feet, experienced
+considerable difficulty in the attempts to clamber out, which he made
+repeatedly and violently on seeing us emerge from among the bushes.
+
+"Let us separate," said Jack; "it will distract his attention."
+
+"Stay; you have blown out his eye, Ralph, I do believe," said Peterkin.
+
+On drawing near to the struggling monster we observed that this was
+really the case.  Blood streamed from the eye into which I had fired,
+and poured down his hideous jaws, dyeing the water in which he
+floundered.
+
+"Look out!" cried Jack, springing to the right, in order to get on the
+animal's blind side as it succeeded in effecting a landing.
+
+Peterkin instantly sprang in the same direction, while I bounded to the
+opposite side.  I have never been able satisfactorily to decide in my
+own mind whether this act on my part was performed in consequence of a
+sudden, almost involuntary, idea that by so doing I should help to
+distract the creature's attention, or was the result merely of an
+accidental impulse.  But whatever the cause, the effect was most
+fortunate; for the rhinoceros at once turned towards me, and thus, being
+blind in the other eye, lost sight of Jack and Peterkin, who with the
+rapidity almost of thought leaped close up to its side, and took close
+aim at the most vulnerable parts of its body.  As they were directly
+opposite to me, I felt that I ran some risk of receiving their fire.
+But before I had time either to reflect that they could not possibly
+miss so large an object at so short a distance, or to get out of the
+way, the report of both their heavy rifles rang through the forest, and
+the rhinoceros fell dead almost at my feet.
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted Peterkin, throwing his cap into the air at this happy
+consummation, and sitting down on the haunch of our victim.
+
+"Shame on you, Peterkin," said I, as I reloaded his rifle for
+him--"shame on you to crow thus over a fallen foe!"
+
+"Ha, boy! it's all very well for you to say that now, but you know well
+enough that you would rather have lost your ears than have missed such a
+chance as this.  But, I say, it'll puzzle you to stuff that fellow,
+won't it?"
+
+"No doubt of it," answered Jack, as he drew a percussion cap from his
+pouch, and placed it carefully on the nipple of his rifle.  "Ralph will
+not find it easy; and it's a pity, too, not to take it home with us, for
+under a glass case it would make such a pretty and appropriate
+_pendant_, in his museum, to that interesting frog with which you--"
+
+"Oh, you sneaking eavesdropper!" cried Peterkin, laughing.  "It is
+really too bad that a fellow can't have a little _tete-a-tete_ with a
+friend but you and Ralph must be thrusting your impertinent noses in the
+way."
+
+"Not to mention the rhinoceros," observed Jack.
+
+"Ah! to be sure--the rhinoceros; yes, I might have expected to find you
+in such low company, for `birds of a feather,' you know, are said to
+`flock together.'"
+
+"If there be any truth in that," said I, "you are bound, on the same
+ground, to identify yourself with the frog."
+
+"By the way," cried Peterkin, starting up and looking around the spot on
+which his interesting _tete-a-tete_ had taken place, "where is the frog?
+It was just here that--Ah!--oh!--oh! poor, poor frog!
+
+  "`Your course is run, your days are o'er;
+  We'll never have a chat no more,'
+
+"As Shakespeare has it.  Well, well, who would have thought that so
+conversable and intelligent a creature should have come to such a
+melancholy end?"
+
+The poor frog had indeed come to a sad and sudden end, and I felt quite
+sorry for it, although I could not help smiling at my companion's quaint
+manner of announcing the fact.
+
+Not being gifted with the activity of Peterkin, it had stood its ground
+when the rhinoceros charged, and had received an accidental kick from
+the great foot of that animal which had broken its back and killed it
+outright.
+
+"There's one comfort, however," observed Jack, as we stood over the
+frog's body: "you have been saved the disagreeable necessity of killing
+it yourself, Ralph."
+
+This was true, and I was not sorry that the rhinoceros had done me this
+service; for, to say truth, I have ever felt the necessity of killing
+animals in cold blood to be one of the few disagreeable points in the
+otherwise delightful life of a naturalist.  To shoot animals in the heat
+and excitement of the chase I have never felt to be particularly
+repulsive or difficult; but the spearing of an insect, or the deliberate
+killing of an unresisting frog, are duties which I have ever performed
+with a feeling of deep self-abhorrence.
+
+Carefully packing my frog in leaves, and placing it in my pouch, I
+turned with my companions to quit the scene of our late encounter and
+return to our camp, on arriving at which we purposed sending back
+Makarooroo to cut off the horn of the rhinoceros; for we agreed that, as
+it was impossible to carry away the entire carcass, we ought at least to
+secure the horn as a memorial of our adventure.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
+
+WE SEE STRANGE THINGS, AND GIVE OUR NEGRO FRIENDS THE SLIP.
+
+During the two following days we passed through a country that was more
+thickly covered with the indiarubber vine than any place we had before
+met with in our African travels.  I could not help feeling regret that
+such a splendid region should be almost, if not altogether, unknown and
+useless to civilised man.  There seemed to be an unlimited supply of
+caoutchouc; but the natives practised a method of gathering it which had
+the effect of destroying the vine.
+
+One day, some weeks after this, we came upon the habitation of a most
+remarkable species of monkey, named the Nshiego Mbouve, which we had
+often heard of, but had not up to that time been so fortunate as to see.
+Being exceedingly anxious to observe how this remarkable creature made
+use of its singular house, Peterkin and I lay down near the place, and
+secreting ourselves in the bushes, patiently awaited the arrival of the
+monkey, while Jack went off in another direction to procure something
+for supper.
+
+"I don't believe he'll come home to-night," said Peterkin, after we had
+lain down.  "People never do come in when any one chances to be waiting
+for them.  The human race seems to be born to disappointment.  Did you
+never notice, Ralph, how obstinately contrary and cross-grained things
+go when you want them to go otherwise?"
+
+"I don't quite understand you," said I.
+
+"Of course you don't.  Yours seems to be a mind that can never take
+anything in unless it is hammered in by repetition."
+
+"Come now, Peterkin, don't become, yourself, an illustration of your own
+remark in reference to cross-grained things."
+
+"Well, I won't.  But seriously, Ralph, have you not observed, in the
+course of your observant life, that when you have particular business
+with a man, and go to his house or office, you are _certain_ to find him
+out, to use the common phrase?  It would be more correct, however, to
+say `you are certain not to find him in.'"
+
+"You are uncommonly particular, Peterkin."
+
+"Truly I had need to be so, with such an uncommonly stupid audience."
+
+"Thank you.  Well?"
+
+"Well, have you never observed that if you have occasion to call at a
+house where you have never been before, the number of that particular
+house is not in its usual place, and you find it after a search quite
+away from where it ought to be?  Has it never struck you that when you
+take out your umbrella, the day is certain to become hot and sunny;
+while, if you omit to carry it with you, it is sure to rain?"
+
+"From all of which you conclude," said I, "that the Nshiego will not
+come home to-night?"
+
+"Exactly so; that is my meaning precisely."
+
+After Peterkin said this, we relapsed into silence; and it was well that
+we did so, for had we continued our conversation even in the whispering
+tones in which it had up to that time been conducted, we should have
+frightened away the ape which now came, as it were, to rebuke Peterkin
+for his unbelief.
+
+Coming quickly forward, the Nshiego Mbouve chambered quickly up the tree
+where its nest was built.  This nest was not a structure _into_ which it
+clambered, but a shelter or canopy formed of boughs with their leaves,
+somewhat in shape like an umbrella, under which it sat.  The
+construction of this shelter exhibited a good deal of intelligent
+ingenuity on the part of the ape; for it was tied to the tree by means
+of wild vines and creepers, and formed a neat, comfortable roof, that
+was quite capable of shedding the night dews or heavy rains, and thus
+protecting its occupant.
+
+We were greatly amused by the manner in which the creature proceeded to
+make itself comfortable.  Just below the canopy was a small branch which
+jutted out horizontally from the stem of the tree.  On this branch the
+ape seated itself, its feet and haunches resting thereon.  Then it threw
+one arm round the tree, and hugging that lovingly to its side, gave what
+appeared to me to be a small sigh of satisfaction, and prepared to go to
+sleep.
+
+At this Peterkin chuckled audibly.  The Nshiego's eyes opened at once.
+I cocked my gun and took aim.  The desire to procure a specimen was very
+strong within me, but an unconquerable aversion to kill an animal in
+such cozy circumstances restrained me.  The Nshiego got up in alarm.  I
+pointed the gun, but could not fire.  It began to descend.  I pulled the
+trigger, and, I am happy to add, missed my aim altogether, to the
+intense delight of Peterkin, who filled the woods with laughter, while
+the Nshiego Mbouve, dropping to the ground, ran shrieking from the spot.
+
+My forbearance at this time was afterwards repaid by my obtaining two
+much finer specimens of this shelter-building ape, both of which were
+killed by Peterkin.
+
+On quitting this place we had a narrow escape, the recollection of which
+still fills me with horror.  We were walking rapidly back towards our
+encampment, chatting as we went, when Peterkin suddenly put his foot on
+what appeared to be the dead branch of a tree.  No sooner had he done so
+than the curling folds of a black snake fully ten feet long scattered
+the dry leaves into the air, and caused us both to dart aside with a
+yell of terror.
+
+I have thought that in the complicated and wonderful mechanism of man
+there lies a species of almost involuntary muscular power which enables
+him to act in all cases of sudden danger with a degree of prompt
+celerity that he could not possibly call forth by a direct act of
+volition.  At all events, on the present emergency, without in the least
+degree knowing what I was about, I brought my gun from my shoulder into
+a horizontal position, and blew the snake's head off almost in an
+instant.
+
+I have pondered this subject, and from the fact that while at one time a
+man may be prompt and courageous in case of sudden danger, at another
+time the same man may become panic-stricken and helpless, I have come to
+the conclusion that the all-wise Creator would teach us--even the
+bravest among us--the lesson of our dependence upon each other, as well
+as our dependence upon Himself, and would have us know that while at one
+time we may prove a tower of strength and protection to our friends, at
+another time our friends may have to afford succour and protection to
+us.
+
+I have often wondered, in reference to this, that many men seem to take
+pride in bold independence, when it is an obvious fact that _every_ man
+is dependent on his fellow, and that this mutual dependence is one of
+the chief sources of human happiness.
+
+The black snake which I had killed turned out to be one of a very
+venomous kind, whose bite is said to be fatal, so that we had good cause
+to be thankful, and to congratulate ourselves on our escape.
+
+In this region of Africa we were particularly fortunate in what we saw
+and encountered, as the narrative of our experiences on the day
+following the above incidents will show.
+
+We had scarcely advanced a few miles on our journey on the morning of
+that day, when we came upon a part of the country where the natives had
+constructed a curious sort of trap for catching wild animals; and it
+happened that a large band of natives were on the point of setting out
+for a grand hunt at that time.
+
+We were greeted with immense delight on our arrival, for those natives,
+we soon discovered, had already heard of our exploits in the lands of
+the gorilla, and regarded us as the greatest hunters that had ever been
+born.  After a short conversation with the chief, through the medium of
+Makarooroo, we arranged to rest there a day, and accompany them on their
+hunting expedition; and the better to secure their good will, we
+presented some of the head men with a few of the beads which we still
+possessed.  Then hauling our canoe out of the water, we prepared
+ourselves for the chase.
+
+After a long and tedious march through somewhat dense jungle, we came
+upon the ground, which was partly open, partly clothed with trees and
+shrubs.  Here the natives, who numbered several hundreds, spread
+themselves out in a long semicircular line, in order to drive the game
+into the trap.
+
+As we followed them, or rather formed part of the line, I overheard the
+following conversation between Peterkin and Makarooroo, who chanced to
+be together.
+
+"Now, Mak," said the former, examining the caps of his rifle, "explain
+to me what sort of trap this is that we're coming to, and what sort of
+brutes we may expect to find in it."
+
+"De trap, massa," replied our faithful follower, drawing the back of his
+hand across his mouth--"de trap am be call _hopo_--"
+
+"Called what-o?" inquired Peterkin.
+
+"_Hopo_."
+
+"Oh! go on."
+
+"An' hims be made ob great number oh sticks tumble down--an' hole at de
+end ob dat; an' de beasties dat goes in be zebros, elosphants, eelands,
+buff'los, gaffs, nocrices, noos, an' great more noders ob which me
+forgit de names."
+
+"Oh! you forgit de names, do you?"
+
+"Yis, massa."
+
+"Ah! it wouldn't be a great loss, Mak, if you were to forget the names
+of those you remember."
+
+The conversation was interrupted at this point by the appearance of a
+buffalo, which showed that we were drawing near to the scene of action.
+But as Makarooroo's description is not remarkable for lucidity, I may
+explain here that the hopo, or trap, consists of two parts; one part may
+be termed the conducting hedges, the other the pit at their termination,
+and into which the game is driven.  The conducting hedges are formed in
+the shape of the letter V.  At the narrow extremity there is a narrow
+lane, at the end of which is the terminating pit.  This pit is about
+eight feet deep and fifteen feet broad, and its edges are made to
+overlap in such a way that once the animals are in it, they have no
+chance whatever of getting out again.  The surface of the pit is
+concealed by a thin crust of green rushes, and the hedges are sometimes
+a mile long, and nearly the same width apart at the outer extremities.
+
+We were still a considerable distance from the outer ends of the hedges,
+when the natives spread out as above described, and I am convinced that
+our line extended over at least four miles of ground.  The circle, of
+course, narrowed as they advanced, shouting wildly, in order to drive
+the game into the enclosure.
+
+That the country was teeming with game soon became apparent, for ever
+and anon as we advanced a herd of gnus or buffaloes or hartbeests would
+dart affrighted from their cover, and sweep over the open ground into
+another place of shelter, out of which they were again driven as the
+line advanced.  In the course of half an hour we drove out hartbeests,
+zebras, gnus, buffaloes, giraffes, rhinoceroses, and many other kinds of
+smaller game, either singly or in herds.
+
+"Now, lads," said Jack, approaching Peterkin and me as we walked
+together, "it is quite evident that if we wish to see this sport in
+perfection we must get outside the hedge, and run along towards the pit;
+for there, in the natural course of things, we may expect the grand
+climax.  What say you?  Shall we go?"
+
+"Agreed," said I.
+
+"Ditto," cried Peterkin.
+
+So without more words we turned aside, followed by Makarooroo, leaped
+the hedge, and running down along it soon reached the edge of the pit.
+
+Here we found a number of the natives assembled with spears, looking
+eagerly through the interstices of the hedges in expectation of the
+advancing herds.  We took up our stand on a convenient spot, and
+prepared to wait patiently.  But our patience was not severely tried.
+We had not been more than five minutes stationed when the noise of the
+closing line was heard, and a herd of buffaloes dashed wildly out from a
+small piece of jungle in which they had sought shelter, and galloped
+over the plain towards us.  Suddenly they halted, and stood for a moment
+snuffing the air, as if uncertain what to do; while we could see, even
+at that distance, that every muscle of their bodies trembled with
+mingled rage and terror.  Before they could decide, a herd of gnus burst
+from the same place; and presently a dozen zebras galloped out, tossing
+up their heels and heads in magnificent indignation.  These last
+scattered, and approached the hedges; which caused several natives to
+dart into the enclosure, who from beneath the shelter of oval shields as
+large as themselves, threw their spears with unerring certainty into the
+sides of the terrified creatures.
+
+At this moment there was a general rush from the scattered groups of
+trees and clumps of jungle, for the animals were now maddened with
+terror, not only at the shouts of their human persecutors, but at their
+own wild cries and the increasing thunder of their tread.
+
+The shouting and tumult now became excessive.  It was almost
+bewildering.  I looked round upon the faces of the negroes nearest to
+me.  They seemed to be almost insane with suppressed excitement, and
+their dark faces worked in a manner that was quite awful to witness.
+
+Presently there was a general and indiscriminate rush of all kinds of
+wild animals towards the narrow end of the hopo.  The natives pressed in
+upon them with wild cries.  Spears flew in all directions.  Ere long the
+plain was covered with wounded animals struggling and bellowing in their
+death-agonies.  As the rushing multitude drew nearer to the fatal pit,
+they became crowded together, and now the men near us began to play
+their part.
+
+"Look out, Jack!"  I cried, as a buffalo bull with glaring eyes and
+foaming jaws made a desperate effort to leap over the barrier in our
+very faces.
+
+Jack raised his rifle and fired; at the same instant a spear was sent
+into the buffalo's breast, and it fell back to form a stumbling-block in
+the way of the rushing mass.
+
+The report of the rifle caused the whole herd to swerve from our side so
+violently that they bore down the other side, until I began to fear the
+hedge would give way altogether; but they were met by the spears and the
+furious yells of the natives there, and again swept on towards the
+narrow lane.
+
+And now the head of the bellowing mass came to the edge of the pit.
+Those in front seemed to suspect danger, for they halted suddenly; but
+the rush of those behind forced them on.  In another moment the thin
+covering gave way, and a literal cataract of huge living creatures went
+surging down into the abyss.
+
+The scene that followed was terrible to witness; and I could not regard
+it with other than feelings of intense horror, despite my knowledge of
+the fact that a large tribe of natives depended on the game then slain
+for their necessary food.  The maddened animals attempted to leap out of
+the pit, but the overlapping edges already referred to effectually
+prevented this until the falling torrent filled it up; then some of them
+succeeded in leaping out from off the backs of their smothered comrades.
+These, however, were quickly met and speared by the natives, while ever
+and anon the great mass was upheaved by the frantic struggles of some
+gigantic creature that was being smothered at the bottom.
+
+While this scene of wholesale destruction was going on, Makarooroo came
+up to me and begged me, with mysterious looks, to follow him out of the
+crowd.
+
+I obeyed, and when we had got away from the immediate neighbourhood of
+the turmoil, I said,--"Well, Mak, what's wrong?"
+
+"De chief, massa, hims tell me few moments ago dat canoe wid Mbango and
+oomans hab pass dis way to-morrow."
+
+"To-morrow!"  I exclaimed.
+
+"No, me forgit; hab pass yistumday."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Yis, an' de chief hims say hims want us to stop wid him and go hunt for
+week or two.  P'raps he no let us go 'way."
+
+"That's just possible, Mak.  Have you told Jack?"
+
+"No, massa."
+
+"Then go bring him and Peterkin hither at once."
+
+In a few minutes my companions were with me, and we held a brief earnest
+consultation as to what we should do.
+
+"I think we should tell the chief we are anxious to be off at once, and
+leave him on good terms," said I.
+
+Peterkin objected to this.  "No," said he; "we cannot easily explain why
+we are anxious to be off so hastily.  I counsel flight.  They won't find
+out that we are gone until it is too late to follow."
+
+Jack agreed with this view, so of course I gave in, though I could not
+in my heart approve of such a method of sneaking away.  But our guide
+seemed also to be exceedingly anxious to be off, so we decided; and
+slipping quietly away under the shelter of the hedge, while the natives
+were still busy with their bloody work, we soon gained the forest.  Here
+we had no difficulty in retracing our steps to the village, where,
+having picked up our little companion, Njamie's son, who had been left
+to play with the little boys of the place, we embarked, swept down the
+stream, and were soon far beyond the chance of pursuit.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
+
+A LONG CHASE, AND A HAPPY TERMINATION THEREOF.
+
+Knowing that unless we advanced with more than ordinary speed we could
+not hope to overtake our friends for several days--a stern chase being
+proverbially a long one--we travelled a great part of the night as well
+as all day; and on our third day after quitting the scene of the curious
+hunt described in the last chapter, we descried the fugitives descending
+the river about a quarter of a mile ahead of us.
+
+Unhappily we made a stupid mistake at this time.  Instead of waiting
+until we were near enough to be recognised, we shouted to our friends
+the moment we saw their canoe.  I cannot say that we knew them to be our
+friends, but we had every reason to suppose so.  The result of our shout
+was that they supposed us to be enemies, and paddled away as if for
+their lives.  It was in vain that we tried to show by signs that we were
+not enemies.
+
+"Yell!" cried Peterkin, turning to Makarooroo, who sat close behind him.
+
+Our guide opened his huge mouth, and gave utterance to a yell that might
+well have struck terror into the heart of Mars himself.
+
+"Stop! stay!" cried Peterkin hastily.  "I didn't mean a war-yell; I
+meant a yell of--of _peace_."
+
+"Me no hab a yell ob peace," said Makarooroo, with a look of perplexity.
+
+"I should not suppose you had," observed Jack, with a quiet laugh, as he
+dipped his paddle more energetically than ever into the stream.--"The
+fact is, Peterkin, that we shall have to go in for a long chase.  There
+is no doubt about it.  I see that there are at least four men in their
+canoe, and if one of them is Mbango, as we have reason to believe, a
+stout and expert arm guides them.  But ho! give way! `never venture,
+never win.'"
+
+With that we all plied our paddles with our utmost might.  The chase
+soon became very exciting.  Ere long it became evident that the crews of
+the two canoes were pretty equally matched, for we did not, apparently,
+diminish the distance between us by a single inch during the next
+half-hour.
+
+"What if it turns out not to be Mbango and his party after all?"
+suggested Peterkin, who wielded his light paddle with admirable effect.
+
+Jack, who sat in the bow, replied that in that case we should have to
+make the best apology and explanation we could to the niggers, and
+console ourselves with the consciousness of having done our best.
+
+For some time the rapid dip of our paddles and the rush of our canoe
+through the water were the only sounds that were heard.  Then Peterkin
+spoke again.  He could never keep silence for any great length of time.
+
+"I say, Jack, we'll never do it.  If we had only another man, or even a
+boy."  (Peterkin glanced at Njamie's little son, who lay sound asleep at
+the bottom of the boat.) "No, he won't do; we might as well ask a
+mosquito to help us."
+
+"I say, lads, isn't one of the crew of that canoe a woman?" said Jack,
+looking over his shoulder, but not ceasing for an instant to ply his
+paddle.
+
+"Can't tell," answered Peterkin.--"What say you, Mak?"
+
+"Ye-is, massa," replied the guide, with some hesitation.  "Me tink dat
+am be one ooman's arm what wag de paddil.  Oh! yis, me sartin sure now,
+dat am a ooman."
+
+"That being the case," observed Jack, in a tone of satisfaction, "the
+chase won't last much longer, for a woman's muscles can't hold out long
+at such a pace.  Ho! give way once more."
+
+In less than five minutes the truth of Jack's remark became apparent,
+for we began rapidly to overhaul the fugitives.  This result acted with
+a double effect: while it inspirited us to additional exertion, it
+depressed those whom we were pursuing, and so rendered them less capable
+than before of contending with us.  There was evidently a good deal of
+excitement and gesticulation among them.  Suddenly the man in the stern
+laid down his paddle, and stooping down seized a gun, with which,
+turning round, he took deliberate aim at us.
+
+"That's rather awkward," observed Jack, in a cool, quiet way, as if the
+awkwardness of the case had no reference whatever to him personally.
+
+We did not, however, check our advance.  The man fired, and the ball
+came skipping over the water and passed us at a distance of about two
+yards.
+
+"Hum!  I expected as much," observed Jack.  "When a bad shot points a
+bad gun at you, your best plan is to stand still and take your chance.
+In such a case the chance is not a bad one.  Hollo! the rascal seems
+about to try it again.  I say, boys, we must stop this."
+
+We had now gained so much on the fugitives that we had reason to hope
+that we might by signs enable them to understand that we were not
+enemies.  We had to make the attempt rather abruptly, for as Jack
+uttered his last remark, the man in the stern of the canoe we were
+chasing, having reloaded his gun, turned round to aim at us again.  At
+the same time the rest of the crew suddenly ceased to paddle, in order
+to enable their comrade to take a steady aim.  It was evident that they
+rested all their hopes upon that shot disabling one of our number, and
+so enabling them to escape.  Seeing this, Makarooroo in desperation
+seized his rifle and levelled it.
+
+"No, no," said Peterkin, hastily holding up his hand.  "Give me your
+rifle, Mak; and yours, Ralph.  Now then, stop paddling for a moment;
+I'll try an experiment."
+
+So saying, he sprang to his feet, and grasping a rifle in each hand,
+held them high above his head, intending thus to show that we were
+well-armed, but that we did not intend to use our weapons.
+
+The device was happily successful: the man in the other canoe lowered
+the gun with which he was in the act of taking aim at us.
+
+"Now, boys, paddle slowly towards the bank," cried Peterkin, laying down
+the rifles quickly and standing erect again with his empty hands
+extended in the air, to confirm the fugitives in regard to our good
+intentions.  They understood the sign, and also turned toward the bank,
+where in a few minutes both parties landed, at the distance of about two
+hundred yards from each other.
+
+"Mak, you had better advance alone," said Jack.  "If it is Mbango and
+his friends, they will know you at once.  Don't carry your rifle; you
+won't need it."
+
+"Nay, Jack," I interposed; "you do not act with your usual caution.
+Should it chance not to be Mbango, it were well that Mak should have his
+rifle and a companion to support him."
+
+"O most sapient Ralph," said Peterkin, "don't you know that Jack and I
+have nothing to do but sit down on this bank, each with a double-barrel
+in his hand, and if anything like foul play should be attempted, four of
+the enemy should infallibly bite the dust at the same time?  But you'd
+better go with Mak, since you're so careful of him.  We will engage to
+defend you both.--Hollo, Puggy! take the line of our canoe here and
+fasten it to yonder bush."
+
+The latter part of this remark was addressed to Njamie's little boy,
+whose name we had never learned, and who had been called Puggy by
+Peterkin--not, let me remark, in anything approaching to a contemptuous
+spirit.  He evidently meant it as a title of endearment.  We had tacitly
+accepted it, and so had the lad, who for some time past had answered to
+the name of Puggy, in utter ignorance, of course, as to its
+signification.
+
+Mak and I now advanced unarmed towards the negroes, and in a few seconds
+we mutually recognised each other.  I was overjoyed to observe the
+well-known face of Okandaga, who no sooner recognised her lover than she
+uttered a joyful shout and ran towards him.  I at the same time advanced
+to Mbango, and grasping his hand shook it warmly; but that good-hearted
+chief was not satisfied with such a tame expression of good will.
+Seizing me by the shoulders, he put forward his great flat nose and
+rubbed mine heartily therewith.  My first impulse was to draw back, but
+fortunately my better judgment came to my aid in time, and prevented me
+from running the risk of hurting the feelings of our black friend.  And
+I had at that time lived long enough to know that there is nothing that
+sinks so bitterly into the human heart as the repulse, however slightly,
+of a voluntary demonstration of affection.  I had made up my mind that
+if the dirtiest negro in all Africa should offer to rub noses with me, I
+would shut my eyes and submit.
+
+I observed among the crew of Mbango's canoe a female figure who
+instantly attracted my attention and awakened my sympathy.  She was
+seated on a rock, paying no attention whatever to the events that were
+occurring so near to her, and which, for aught she could tell, might be
+to her matter of life or death.  Her hands hung idly by her side; her
+body was bowed forward; her head drooped on her breast; and her whole
+appearance indicated a depth of woe such as I have never before seen
+equalled.
+
+I pointed to her and looked at Mbango in surprise.  He looked first at
+the woman and then at me, and shook his head mournfully; but being
+unable to speak to me, or I to him, of course I could not gather much
+from his looks.
+
+I was about to turn to our guide, when the woman raised her head a
+little, so that her face was exposed.  I at once recognised the features
+of Njamie, Mbango's favourite wife, and I was now at no loss to divine
+the cause of her grief.
+
+Starting up in haste, I ran away back at full speed towards the spot
+where our canoe lay.  Jack and Peterkin, seeing how matters stood, were
+by that time advancing to meet us, and the little boy followed.  I
+passed them without uttering a word, seized the boy by the wrist, and
+dragged him somewhat violently towards the place where his mother sat.
+
+"Hollo, Ralph," shouted Peterkin as I passed, "see that you don't damage
+my Puggy, else you'll have to--"
+
+I heard no more.  The next instant I stood beside Njamie, and placed her
+boy before her.  I have never in my life witnessed such a mingling of
+intense eagerness, surprise, and joy, as was expressed by the poor woman
+when her eyes fell on the face of her child.  For one moment she gazed
+at him, and the expressions I have referred to flitted, or rather
+flashed, across her dusky countenance; then giving utterance to a
+piercing shriek, she sprang forward and clasped her son to her bosom.
+
+I would not have missed that sight for the world.  I know not very well
+what my thoughts were at the time, but the memory of that scene has
+often since, in my musings, filled me with inexpressible gladness; and
+in pondering the subject, I have felt that the witnessing of that
+meeting has given additional force to the line in Scripture wherein the
+word "love" alone is deemed sufficiently comprehensive to describe the
+whole character of the Almighty.
+
+Here, on the one hand, I beheld unutterable, indescribable woe; on the
+other hand, unutterable, inconceivable joy--both, I should suppose, in
+their extremest degree, and both resulting from pure and simple _love_.
+I pondered this much at the time; I have pondered it often since.  It is
+a subject of study which I recommend to all who chance to read this
+page.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
+
+I HAVE A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER AND A NARROW ESCAPE.
+
+The happiness that now beamed in the faces of Makarooroo, Okandaga, and
+Njamie was a sufficient reward to us for all the trouble we had taken
+and all the risk we had run on their account.  Poor Njamie was
+exceedingly grateful to us.  She sought by every means in her power to
+show this, and among other things, hearing us call her son by the name
+of Puggy, she at once adopted it, to the immense amusement and delight
+of Peterkin.
+
+After the first excitement of our meeting had subsided somewhat, we
+consulted together as to what we should now do.  On the one hand, we
+were unwilling to quit the scene of our hunting triumphs and adventures;
+on the other hand, Makarooroo and his bride were anxious to reach the
+mission stations on the coast and get married in the Christian manner.
+
+"Our opposing interests are indeed a little perplexing," said Jack,
+after some conversation had passed on the subject.--"No doubt, Mak, you
+and Mbango with his friends might reach the coast safely enough without
+us; but then what should we do without an interpreter?"
+
+Our poor guide, whose troubles seemed as though they would never end,
+sighed deeply and glanced at his bride with a melancholy countenance as
+he replied--
+
+"Me'll go wid you, massa, an' Okandaga'll go to coast an' wait dere for
+me come."
+
+"Ha!" ejaculated Peterkin, "that's all very well, Mak, but you'll do
+nothing of the sort.  That plan won't do, so we'll have to try again."
+
+"I agree with you, Peterkin," observed Jack.  "That plan certainly will
+not do; but I cannot think of any other that will, so we must just
+exercise a little self-denial for once, give up all further attacks on
+the wild beasts of Africa, and accompany Mak to the coast."
+
+"Could we not manage a compromise?" said I.
+
+"What be a cumprumoise?" asked Makarooroo, who had been glancing
+anxiously from one to the other as we conversed.
+
+Peterkin laid hold of his chin, pursed up his mouth, and looked at me
+with a gleeful leer.
+
+"There's a chance for you, Ralph," said he; "why don't you explain?"
+
+"Because it's not easy to explain," said I, considering the best way in
+which to convey the meaning of such a word.--"A compromise, Mak, is--is
+a bargain, a compact--at least so Johnson puts it--"
+
+"Yes," interposed Peterkin; "so you see, Mak, when you agree with a
+trader to get him an elephant-tusk, that's a cumprumoise, according to
+Johnson."
+
+"No, no, Mak," said I quickly; "Peterkin is talking nonsense.  It is not
+a bargain of that kind; it's a--a--You know every question has two
+sides?"
+
+"Yis, massa."
+
+"Well, suppose you took one side."
+
+"Yis."
+
+"And suppose I took the other side."
+
+"Then suppose we were to agree to forsake our respective sides and meet,
+as it were, half-way, and thus hold the same middle course--"
+
+"Ay, down the middle and up again; that's it, Mak," again interrupted
+Peterkin--"that's a cumprumoise.  In short, to put it in another and a
+clearer light, suppose that I were to resolve to hit you an awful whack
+on one side of your head, and suppose that Ralph were to determine to
+hit you a frightful bang on the other side, then suppose that we were to
+agree to give up those amiable intentions, and instead thereof to give
+you, unitedly, one tremendous smash on the place where, if you had one,
+the bridge of your nose would be--_that_ would be a cumprumoise."
+
+"Ho! ha! ha! hi!" shouted our guide, rolling over on the grass and
+splitting himself with laughter; for Makarooroo, like the most of his
+race, was excessively fond of a joke, no matter how bad, and was always
+ready on the shortest notice to go off into fits of laughter, if he had
+only the remotest idea of what the jest meant.  He had become so
+accustomed at last to expect something jocular from Peterkin, that he
+almost invariably opened his mouth to be ready whenever he observed our
+friend make any demonstration that gave indication of his being about to
+speak.
+
+From the mere force of sympathy Mbango began to laugh also, and I know
+not how long the two would have gone on, had not Jack checked them by
+saying--
+
+"I suspect we are not very well fitted to instruct the unenlightened
+mind," ("Ho--hi!" sighed Makarooroo, gathering himself up and settling
+down to listen), "and it seems to me that you'll have to try again,
+Peterkin, some other mode of explanation."
+
+"Very good, by all means," said our friend.--"Now, Mak, look here.  You
+want to go _there_" (pointing to the coast with his left hand), "and we
+want to go there" (pointing to the interior with his right hand).  "Now
+if we both agree to go there," (pointing straight before him with his
+nose), "_that_ will be a cumprumoise.  D'ye understand?"
+
+"Ho yis, massa, me compiperhend now."
+
+"Exactly so," said I; "that's just it.  There is a branch of this river
+that takes a great bend away to the north before it turns towards the
+sea, is there not?  I think I have heard yourself say so before now."
+
+"Yis, massa, hall right."
+
+"Well, let us go by that branch.  We shall be a good deal longer on the
+route, but we shall be always nearing the end of our journey, and at the
+same time shall pass through a good deal of new country, in which we may
+hope to see much game."
+
+"Good," said Jack; "you have wisdom with you for once, Ralph--it seems
+feasible.--What say you, Mak?  I think it a capital plan."
+
+"Yis, massa, it am a copitle plan, sure 'nuff."
+
+The plan being thus arranged and agreed to, we set about the execution
+of it at once, and ere long our two canoes were floating side by side
+down the smooth current of the river.
+
+The route which we had chosen led us, as I had before suspected, into
+the neighbourhood of the gorilla country, and I was much gratified to
+learn from Mbango, who had travelled over an immense portion of
+south-western Africa, that it was not improbable we should meet with
+several of those monstrous apes before finally turning off towards the
+coast.  I say that I was much gratified to learn this; but I little
+imagined that I was at that time hastening towards a conflict that
+well-nigh proved fatal to me, and the bare remembrance of which still
+makes me shudder.
+
+It occurred several weeks after the events just related.  We had gone
+ashore for the purpose of hunting, our supply of provisions chancing at
+that time to be rather low.  Feeling a desire to wander through the
+woods in solitude for a short time, I separated from my companions.  I
+soon came to regret this deeply, for about an hour afterwards I came
+upon the tracks of a gorilla.  Being armed only with my small-bore
+double rifle, and not being by any means confident of my shooting
+powers, I hesitated some time before making up my mind to follow the
+tracks.
+
+At first I thought of retracing my steps and acquainting my comrades
+with the discovery I had made; but the little probability there was of
+my finding them within several hours deterred me.  Besides, I felt
+ashamed to confess that I had been afraid to prosecute the chase alone;
+so, after pondering the matter a little, I decided on advancing.
+
+Before doing so, however, I carefully examined the caps of my rifle and
+loosened my long hunting-knife in its sheath.  Then I cautiously
+followed up the track, making as little noise as possible, for I was
+well aware of the watchfulness of the animal I was pursuing.
+
+The footprints at first were not very distinct, but ere long I came on a
+muddy place where they were deeply imprinted, and my anxiety was
+somewhat increased by observing that they were uncommonly large--the
+largest I had ever seen--and that, therefore, they had undoubtedly been
+made by one of those solitary and gigantic males, which are always found
+to be the most savage.
+
+I had scarcely made this discovery when I came unexpectedly on the
+gorilla itself.  It was seated at the foot of a tree about fifty yards
+from the spot where I stood, the space between us being comparatively
+clear of underwood.  In an instant he observed me, and rose, at the same
+time giving utterance to one of those diabolical roars which I have
+before referred to as being so terrible.
+
+I halted, and felt an irresistible inclination to fire at once; but
+remembering the oft-repeated warnings of my companions, I restrained
+myself.  At that moment I almost wished, I freely confess, that the
+gorilla would run away.  But the monster had no such intention.  Again
+uttering his horrible roar, he began slowly to advance, at the same time
+beating his drum-like chest with his doubled fist.
+
+I now felt that my hour of trial had come.  I must face the gorilla
+boldly, and act with perfect coolness.  The alternative was death.  As
+the hideous creature came on, I observed that he was considerably larger
+than the biggest we had yet seen; but, strange to say, this fact made no
+deeper impression upon me.  I suppose that my whole mental and nervous
+being was wound up to the utmost possible state of tension.  I _felt_
+that I was steady and able to brave the onset.  But I was not aware of
+the severity of the test to which I was destined to be subjected.
+Instead of coming quickly on and deciding my fate at once, the savage
+animal advanced slowly, sometimes a step or two at a time, and then
+pausing for a moment ere it again advanced.  Sometimes it even sat down
+on its haunches for a second or two, as if the weight of its overgrown
+body were too much for its hind legs; but it did not cease all that time
+to beat its chest, and roar, and twist its features into the most
+indescribable contortions.  I suppose it took nearly five minutes to
+advance to within twelve yards of me, but those five minutes seemed to
+me an hour.  I cannot describe the mental agony I endured.
+
+When within ten yards of me I could restrain myself no longer.  I raised
+my rifle, aimed at its chest, and fired.  With a terrible roar it
+advanced.  Again I fired, but without effect, for the gorilla rushed
+upon me.  In despair, I drew my hunting-knife and launched it full at
+the brute's chest with all my might.  I saw the glittering blade enter
+it as the enormous paw was raised to beat me down.  I threw up my rifle
+to ward off the fatal blow, and at the same moment sprang to one side,
+in the hope of evading it.  The stock of the rifle was shattered to
+pieces in an instant, and the blow, which would otherwise have fallen
+full on my head or chest, was diverted slightly, and took effect on my
+shoulder, the blade of which was smashed as I was hurled with stunning
+violence to the ground.  For one moment I felt as if I were falling
+headlong down a precipice; the next, I became unconscious.
+
+On recovering, I found myself lying on my back at the bottom of what
+appeared to be a large pit.  I must have lain there for a considerable
+time, for I felt cold and stiff; and when I attempted to move, my
+wounded shoulder caused me unutterable anguish.  I knew, however, that I
+must certainly perish if I did not exert myself; so with much difficulty
+I crept out of the pit.  The first object that met my eyes, on rising to
+my feet, was the carcass of my late antagonist; which, on examination, I
+found, though badly wounded by both bullets, had eventually been killed
+by the knife.  It must have died almost immediately after giving me the
+blow that had hurled me into the pit.  I had not observed this pit,
+owing to the screen of bushes that surrounded it, but I have now no
+doubt that it was the means of saving my life.
+
+My recollections of what followed this terrible adventure are
+exceedingly confused.  I remember that I wandered about in a state of
+dreamy uncertainty, endeavouring to retrace my steps to our encampment.
+I have a faint recollection of meeting, to my surprise, with Jack and
+Peterkin, and of their tender expressions of sympathy; and I have a very
+vivid remembrance of the agony I endured when Jack set my broken
+shoulder-blade and bandaged my right arm tightly to my side.  After
+that, all was a confused dream, in which all the adventures I had ever
+had with wild beasts were enacted over again, and many others besides
+that had never taken place at all.
+
+Under the influence of fever, I lay in a state of delirium for many days
+in the bottom of the canoe; and when my unclouded consciousness was at
+length restored to me, I found myself lying in a bed, under the
+hospitable roof of a missionary, the windows of whose house looked out
+upon the sea.
+
+And now, reader, the record of our adventures is complete.  During the
+few weeks that I spent with the kind missionary of the Cross, I gained
+strength rapidly, and amused myself penning the first chapters of this
+book.  Makarooroo and Okandaga were married, and soon became useful
+members of the Christian community on that part of the African coast.
+Mbango and his friends also joined the missionary for a time, but
+ultimately returned to the interior, whither I have no doubt they
+carried some of the good influences that they had received on the coast
+along with them.
+
+King Jambai proved faithful to his engagement.  All our packages and
+boxes of specimens arrived safely at the coast; and when unpacked for
+examination, and displayed in the large schoolroom of the station, the
+gorillas, and other rare and wonderful animals, besides curious plants,
+altogether formed a magnificent collection, the like of which has not
+yet been seen in Great Britain, and probably never will be.
+
+When I was sufficiently restored to stand the voyage, Jack and Peterkin
+and I embarked in a homeward-bound trading vessel, and taking leave of
+our kind friends of the coast, and of Makarooroo and Okandaga, who wept
+much at the prospect of separation from us, we set sail for Old England.
+
+"Farewell," said I, as we leaned over the vessel's side and gazed sadly
+at the receding shore--"farewell to you, kind missionaries and faithful
+negro friends."
+
+"Ay," added Peterkin, with a deep sigh, "and fare-you-well, ye monstrous
+apes; gorillas, fare-you-well!"
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gorilla Hunters, by R.M. Ballantyne
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