The critic., 1891-02-23
How Paul Il. Du chaiilu Met His First

Gorilla.
Fitm 'Ronnd- Robin 7dlksn an March Lippu.
cOtrs.
pu Chailla was walking, as was his
custom, some distance in advance of his
companions, ranged in single file, when
bis ears were saluted by n strange, hith
erto unheard sound. II rivcted his atten-
ticn at once. Could it be the noise of
some cannibal tribe preparing for combat,
or Of an elephant disturbed by his ap-
preach? He cast himself down and with
car pressed to the earth listened breath
lessly. Once more the oppressive silence
was broken, this time by sound of snap
ping timber, loud as gunshot, and then
there came crashing to the ground q
great branch of tree-so big that he said
TO himself, Goodness these must be
giants." Another bough was pitched
down, ard it was plain, though he could
not see the enemy, the enemy could see
him. Then from somewhere aloft there
issued a prolonged, cultural growl full of
mischief, blood-curdling sound never to
be forgotten
Gr-r-r-I-r-r! Gr-r-r-rr-r!
lie stopped, and made the native signal
of danger-a peculiar clicking noise of the
tongue against the roof of the mouth. He
got his rifle in readiness. The lombard
ment of boughs had now ceased; there
WAS aDsOlutc SllcnCe, save lOr tlle tnuIlp-
ing of his heart against his ribs. IL
thumped so loud that he feared it would
betray him to the unseen and unknown
foe. "Wait little, Paul! wait little!"
he said to himself You are not ready
to fight quite YETI
Pcering into the twilight around and
above him, he was suddenly aware OF
an object in his immediate neighbor-
hood. A short hairy, manlike creature,
xxsst1 Ia x,;g
staring eyes under low brows, an enor-
nous mouth with huge canine teeth;
this head set on an enormous chest
and raunch, mounted on short crooked
legs, and furnished with pair of
arms long and musc9iaEs las vas sasft66e TIE be-: e.
ing he had come so far to behold; this
was the creature that no white man, un-
less 1t was Hanno two thousand years ago,
had ever seen. This was the gorilla.
The brute was near him before he saw
it, and now II thumped on its chest and
emitted another long-drawn terrific yell
resembling the sound of thunder in the
sky. 1t advanced; its black lips curled
away from its long teeth in savage snarl.
1t was not going to wait to be attacked
II was eager for the fray, and advancing
beat its breast with sounds as from big
drum.
Du Chaillu was alone.
He drew his rifle to his shoulder. He
said to himself that the nearer the crea-
ture came, the better would be his chance
Of giving 1t fatal wound. Savage though
it looked, it must have vital part. He
waited until its hairy body was less than
twice the length of his rifle from the rifles
muzzle. Then he pulled the trigger, aim
ing for spot of the heart. 1t was q shot
upon which good deal depended for the
young explorer-not to mention the gor-
rilla. The smoke hung in the still air;
but he saw that he had succeeded. The
animal lifted its long arms and bent for
ward, uttering groans that were human
but full Of brutishness. 1t stumbled for
ward and fell on its ugly face, and was
dead in q few minutes. "For," observed
Du Chaillu, 'ett is lucky, though they
are SO strong, they die very easy" Such