Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-01-25

doubled. At this instant the natives
joined us, crawling through the dense
underground as we had done.
Chief" said Thursday, in whisper
80 low it hardly reached me, "the brute
has already detected us"
How do you know that9" said /,
so 'tly.
Look he replied; his nostrils
CULVER with anger as he scents us, and
his cruel eye never leaves our shelter"
Then why does he not attack us7
Is he afraid9"
Fear! The man-eater? You'll not
believe that long"
"Why does he wait, either to run or
fght?" AS whispered these words
the old chief made me a sign, urging
me to silence. The furious cries and
roars of the gorilla grew louder and
fercer. II was plain, even to so inex-
perienced hunter as myself, that
something unusual was about to hap.
pen. The monster CRASHED his ire
mendous teeth, shaking with rage, but
did not leave his hut-roof For the
twentieth time I asked myself the
double question: "yvhy do we not give
him a shot, or why does he not get
away from us7" A dozen times raised
my rifle-.the one carrying the sxplo.
sive ball--snd dozen times the chief
threw up the barrel. did not have TO
wait long for q solution Of the mys.
terry As was watching our enemy
with the closest attention, fascinated
by the strange sight, Thursday made
me sign TO look lower. obeyed me.
chanically, and saw, with shudder Of
horror, second gorilla's head emerg.
ing from the foliage which shaded the
hut.
THAT is the female" said Thursday.
Now you sec why the gorilla did not
attack us. He Is in a tremendous rage
because, in spite of his repeated calls,
he cannot make his companion listen"
What does he want?"
He wants to see her safe in the for
est, and then he will come and settle
his account with us. But she is un.
doubtedly sucking her young, and does
not wish TO come from her retreat, es-
pecially without knowing exactly
which way to turn to put her offspring
In safety"
In a moment she seemed to decide,
for with a single bound she sprapg
from her shelter, holding little gorilla,
hardly more than few days old, in
her arms. Evidently the little animal
had been the cause of her hesitation
and delay. Her remarkable intelli-
gence showed her almost instantly on
Which side the danger lay, and, facing
round, she sprang into the forest with
out a cry.
Her departure was saluted by roar
from the male even more terrible than
its predecessors. felt my hair stand
on end, as 1t we'll might, before so no.
markable a sight.
At word from the chief, Thursday
said: "Do you want TO kill him3'
made a quick gesture of assent.
Then" said he, with a glance ut the
chief, 1--WE must show ourselves ut
once, or he will escape"
We stepped quickly out into the
clearing toward the brute, who stopped
on seeing us coming.
Don't shoot until I give the word
whispered the chiefs. 1t was not time
to dispute such singular command, so
l merely waited with my gun ready.
The monster was about fifty PAGES in
front OF us, and could easily have shot
him where he stood, but resisted the
temptation. Whenever I have hunted
In Africa with the native chiefs l have
always made 1t q rule To follow their
suggestions implicitly--with due re-
gard, Of course, 10 my own personal