Year: 1879

moment an icy chill would make mt
shiver, and the next, perhaps, would fee
burning flush sending out the perspira
ton in streams. / glanced at the African
and saw him firmly planted, with his speal
poised for the onset, his breast heaving.


mo run now. MASTER" he said in low
thick, almost inarticulates tones; nc
'scape him by run. Him swift as tigar
strong as elephant. Must kills"


"Shall I fire now, Mochag"
mo fire him come nigh; den fre
through heart"


He was coming nearer and nearer, by
slow degrees, a few PAGES at time, with
a short, awful roaring and breast beating
interval between. and thus had time to
think over many of my sins, and say pray.
ers that had too long been neglected.


mocha, be ready" said when the
monster had once more stopped to roar
and beat his breast within ten PAGES. 81
am about to end this suspense; am about
to fire"


took deliberate aim, but, in spite of all
l could do, my arms shook so that was
afraid to pull the trigger, and twice low:
cred the weapon to get more steadiness OF
uerve. / was as il some painful spell
were on me; and at the third trial 1t SEEM
ed as if the fingers ofmy right band were
paralyzed and would mot obey my will; a
fact for which have never been able TO
account


The monster again advanced, and now
not more than five or six PAGES divided
us, and he appeared rs if to make his final
desperate rush. Delay now would be
death: and summoning all my will, L
pulled both triggers in succession.


Only one barrel was discharged by the
act, the other missing fire. The ball went
off Sn rtx an1 lpxlnaI m the
breast of the gorilla. 1t did not bring
him TO the earth, however. but made him
wildly furious; and gnashing his teeth,
and uttering most unearthly shrieks and
yells he bounded forward for his revenge.
Quick as lightning the gallant Mocha
threw himself before me and struck with
his spear-but it might as well have been
a reed. One blow of the ponderous arm
of the brute turned it aside all shivcred,
while the hsnd of the other stretched the
poor fellow bleeding and senscless ON the
Garth. In his fall he came back against
ME with such force that went down also.
At that moment had not a single hope of
life, and knowing myself utterly defense.
less, despair took complete possession OF
me, and I made no effort to rise.


This, and l believe this alone, was my
salvation-for seeing us both still, and
probably thinking us both dead, the filri-
Gus brute seized my gun, and first fairly
denting the barrels with his teeth. he
struck Il against tree with force that
shivered the stock and bent the iron near
ly double, then throwing it down, putting
his hands over his breast, and uttering the
most terrible howlings and shriekings of
rage and pain, he hastily disappeared in
the dense jungle, leaving me to thank
Heaven that 1 had so miracuously escaped
unhamed.


Mocha had been stunned, and his breast
badly lacerated; but he was neither killed
nor mortally wounded and dressing his
wounds as well as could, 1 got the poor
fellow upon his feet and assisted him back
to the vessel, where our surgeons attended
to his case, and soon restored him TO
health. did not forget that he had saved
my life, and assure you / made him proud
and happy ofthe heroism he had displayed
in my behalf.


Whether the gorilla died of his wounds
or not i never knew, and never felt the
least curiosity TO go and see. Certain II
is, he took HIS skin away with HIM, and 1
was only too glad to see the last of him.
He was the first of this kind ever saw
alive, and with heavens permission, he
will be the last shall ever look upon in
his native jungle.