Feliciana sentinel., 1892-10-22

eve of a new and exciting experience
For five minutes, that seemed an age.
I saw the chief moving slowly without
the least noise. parting the undcrbrush
with his hands. holding it on one siae
until too had passed. Suddenly he
stoppcd half raised himself and seemed
TO center all his attention on point IN
space bcyond the close curtain OF foli-
arc in front OF us. My heart beat in
great throbs. Finally he made me a
sign to approach, and l, in turn, cast
rapid glance through the forest feit
| my hair stand on end as, at the Gu" VI
a little clearing. l saw seated on
| leafy hut an enormous gorilla. smiling
the air and rolling his angry eyes IN
every direction.
| 1t was my first sight OF this curious
and terrible animal-the main cause OF
nv Journey and explorations %"
| would have said that he scented oah-
| ger. for his eyes searched the lea'y
| screen behind which We were crolchlhs
with a singularly feroclous glance Una.
clearly showed he did not for an instant
mistake the detection from which his
enemy was .comobg.
The old chief, used as he was to this
sight, took it coolly enough: but pro
found astonishmeut, coupled WIN
certain kind Of terror, transhxed me W
the spot. ! did not expect to see Z:
animal of such terrible proportions
: and ferocity. and it was one OF the
8 rarest experiences OF my long i1e ot
: travel and adventure to find the realty
:, far exceed nv widest imagin alton
, Erect, his head thrust forward, beat
:. ing his chest with his long arms, ne
). gave three mighty roars, in which that
tone peculiar to wild beasts was curl
ously mingled will, a human cry that
:. might have come from one of our own
:, throats. Then he uttered series OF
=. rrowls, deep and heavy. louder az
:, first. running down the scale, ana
- diminishing in volume like n clap Oh
=, thunder rolling away in the distance.
.. Suddenly the shrill note OF a paro-
-, auet sounded near The gorlll'i
- stopped short in astonishment. IN
:. stiuctively l raised my head to see on
- which branch this daring bird was
y: pcrched. I saw nothing; but, when the
as note was repeated, ! realized that
- had been deceived by an admiraoie
imitation, and that the old chlef hae
- used this signal to call MS h""'e'
around again.
az However skiIlful the Fan chief was
~ in cheating me, he evidently had not
u" deceived the gorilla, for his fury re
doubled. At this instant the natives
Joined us, crawling through the dens'
undergrowth as we had done
e.. "Chief." said Thursday, in whisPe'
'ls SO low it hardly reached me, tine or"''
N Nie has already detected us.
ne' ..How do you know that?" said ]
sn. softly. .u;,
Tor Look he replied: Ibis nostrll
Ill culver with anger as he scents us, an
VII. his cruel eye never leaves our sheiter'
AZ Then why does he not attack us
'u" Is he afraid?
an Fear. The, man-eater? You'll nc
inc believe that long"
..Why does he wait, either to run c
fight?" AS whispered these wore
the old chief made me sign. urgin
me to silence. The furious cries an
roars of the gorilla grew louder an
w. fiercer 1t was plain, even to SO Inc:
v perienced hunter as myself, IN;
M, something unusual was about T." ma
. nen. The monster gnashed his tr
mendous teeth. shaking with rage, ID
did not leave his hut-roof. for u
M twentieth time l asked mysei1 u
m double question: why do We not gi'
M him shot. or why does he not e
IA .w.v from us?" A dozen times ! rais'
~ nv rife-.the one carrying the eXpl
S' \ siye bali-aud a dozen times the CHI
threw up the barrel. did not have
wait long for solution OF the my
) tery AS was watching cur enen
with the closest attention, fascinat
by the strange sight. Thursday ma
me a sign to look lower "oeyea II
chanically, and saw, with a shudder
fowl norioi " 80. hitch shaded I
hut.
THAT is the female" said Thursd;
as"' Now yon see why the gorilla oid
oher attack us. He is in a tremendous ra
n an because, in spite of his repeated cal
he cannot make his companion liste
ana What does he want?'
val .ue wants to see her safe in the
rillas est and then he viii come and SET
his account with us. But she is
sked doubtcdly sucking her young, and d
liked not wish to come from her retreat,
pecially without knowing exac
which way to turn to put her offspr
rice" in safety"
ng to In a moment she seemed 10 acc
for with a single bound she spri
is my from her shelter holding a little gorl
er is hardly more than a few days old
more her arms. Evidently the httle AM
losive had been the cause OF her hesi1a
lways and DELAY. Her remarkable int
peuce showed her almost instantly
" the which side the danger lay and fa'
ways round. she sprang into the forest ="
out a cry.
, first Her departure was saluted by a
from the male even more terrible
h who its predecessors. ieie NY n
an do on end, as 1t well might' oeioie ~
unless markable sight
At a word from the chief, Thur
Md do said: do you want 20 XIII HIM
Imade a quick gesture OF assent
y hack Then" said b., with glance a
at his chief. we must snow o
ased. once, or ne Will escape
oment We stepped quickS
gorilla, clearing toward .he "r1.e'
YOU" On seeing us coming