The Gorilla Hunters

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER EIGHT.

  PETERKIN DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF, AND OKANDAGA IS DISPOSED OF, ETCETERA.

  When within about three miles of the place where our men had beenordered to haul the canoe out of the water and make the camp, we came toa halt and prepared a spot for Okandaga to spend an hour or two insleep. The poor creature was terribly exhausted. We selected a verysequestered place in a rocky piece of ground, where the light of thesmall fire we kindled, in order to cook her some supper, could not beseen 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 giveinstructions to our men, who, when we arrived, seemed much surprisedthat we had made such a bad hunt during the night. Having pointed outour route, Makarooroo then left us, and we lay down to obtain a fewhours' repose.

  We had not lain more than an hour when one of our men awoke us, sayingthat it was time to start; so we rose, very unwillingly, and embarked.

  "I say, Ralph," observed Peterkin, as we glided up the stream, which inthis place was narrow and sluggish, "isn't it strange that mankind, as arule, with very few exceptions, should so greatly dislike getting up inthe morning?"

  "It is rather curious, no doubt. But I suspect we have ourselves tothank for the disinclination. If we did not sit up so late at night weshould not feel the indisposition to rise so strong upon us in themorning."

  "There you are quite wrong, Ralph. I always find that the sooner I goto bed the later I am in getting up. The fact is, I've tried everymethod of rousing myself, and without success. And yet I can sayconscientiously that I am desirous of improving; for when at sea I usedto have my cot slung at the head with a block-tackle, and I got one ofthe middies to come when the watch was changed and lower me, so that myhead lay on the deck below, and my feet pointed to the beams above. Andwould you believe it, I got so accustomed to this at last that, whendesperately sleepy, I used to hold on in that position for a fewminutes, and secure a short nap during the process of suffocation withblood 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 ofthe evil."

  "Of course you do," retorted Peterkin testily; "people always say thatwhen I try to defend myself."

  "Is it not probable that people always say that just because they feelthat there is truth in the remark?"

  "Humph!" ejaculated my friend.

  "Besides," I continued, "our success in battling with the eviltendencies of our natures depends often very much on the manner in whichwe make the attack. I have pondered this subject deeply, and have cometo the conclusion that there is a certain moment in the awaking hour ofeach day which if seized and improved gains for us the victory. Youknow Shakespeare's judicious remark--`There is a tide in the affairs ofmen which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune,' or something tothat effect. I never feel quite sure of the literal correctness of myquotations, 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 itsflood-point is the precise instant when you recover consciousness. Atthat moment every one, I believe, has moral courage to leap violentlyout of bed; but let that moment pass, and you sink supinely back, if notto sleep, at least into a desperate condition of unconquerablelethargy."

  "You may be very correct in your reasoning," returned Peterkin; "but nothaving pondered that subject quite so deeply as you seem to have done, Ishall modestly refrain from discussing it. Meanwhile I will go ashore,and stalk yonder duck which floats so comfortably and lazily in the covejust beyond the point ahead of us, that I think it must be in thecondition of one who, having missed the flood-tide you have justreferred to, is revelling in the luxury of its second nap.--Ho, youebony-faced scoundrel!" he added, turning to the negro who steered ourcanoe; "shove ashore, like a good fellow.--Come, Ralph, lend me yourfowling-piece, and do you carry my big rifle. There is nothing so goodfor breakfast as a fat duck killed and roasted before it has had time tocool."

  "And here is a capital spot on which to breakfast," said I, as welanded.

  "First-rate. Now then, follow me, and mind your muzzle. Better put therifle over your shoulder, Ralph, so that if it does go off it may hitthe sun or one of the stars. A six-ounce ball in one's spine is not apleasant companion in a hunting expedition."

  "But," retorted I, "you forget that I am particularly careful. I alwayscarry 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 Imean."

  "Hush, Ralph! we must keep silence now and step lightly."

  In a few minutes we had gained the clump of bushes close behind whichthe duck lay; and Peterkin, going down on all fours, crept forward toget a shot. I followed him in the same manner, and when he stopped totake a deliberate aim, I crept up alongside. The duck had heard ourapproach, and was swimming about in a somewhat agitated manner among thetall reeds, so that my companion made one or two unsuccessful attemptsto take aim.

  "What an aggravating thing!" exclaimed Peterkin in a whisper.

  At that moment I happened to cast my eyes across the river, and thereader may judge of my surprise when I beheld two elephants standingamong the trees. They stood so silently and so motionless, and were solike in colour to the surrounding foliage, that we had actuallyapproached to within about thirty yards without observing them. Itouched Peterkin on the shoulder, and pointed to them without saying aword. The expression of amazement that instantly overspread hisfeatures 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 atthe animal nearest to us. The heavy ball entered its huge body justbehind the shoulder. Both elephants tossed up their trunks, andelevating their great ears they dashed furiously into the bush; but theone that had been hit, after plunging head foremost down a low bank fellto the ground with a heavy crash, quite dead.

  It was a splendid shot. The natives, who almost immediately after cameup screaming with delight, could scarcely believe their eyes. Theydashed across the river in the canoe, while some of them, regardless ofthe alligators that might be hidden there, sprang into the water andswam over.

  "I'm sorry we did not get the duck, however," observed Peterkin, as wereturned to the place where we had left the canoe. "Elephant meat iscoarse, nasty stuff, and totally unfit for civilised mouths, thoughthese 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 onlypart o' the brute that's fit to eat."

  Soon after this the canoe came back and took us over the river; and webreakfasted on the side where the elephant had fallen, in order to allowthe natives to cut off such portions of the meat as they required, andto secure the tusks. Then we continued our journey, and at nightencamped near a grove of palm-trees which Makarooroo had described tous, and where we were soon joined by him and Jack, who told us that hehad got on well, during the day--that he had shot an antelope, and hadseen a zebra and a rhinoceros, besides a variety of smaller game. Healso told us that Okandaga was encamped in a place of safety a few milesto 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 feltdisposed to change places with him on the march; but reflecting that hewas much more likely than I successfully to hunt anything he mightpursue, I made up my mind to remain by the canoe.

  Thus we travelled for several days without anything particularoccurring, and at length arrived at a native village which lay on thebanks of a noble stream.

  Here Makarooroo introduced us to Mbango the chief, a fine-looking andgood-natured negro, who received us most hospitably, supplied us withfood, and urged us
to remain and hunt with his people. This, however,we declined to do, telling our entertainer that we had come to hiscountry for the purpose of shooting that wonderful animal the gorilla,but assuring him that we would come back without fail if we should bespared. We further assured him on this head by proposing to leave inhis charge a woman for whom we had a great respect and love, and whom wemade him promise faithfully to take care of till we returned.

  Peterkin, who soon gave them a specimen of his powers as a marksman, andcontrived in other ways to fill the minds of the chief and his peoplewith a very exalted idea of his powers both of body and intellect,endeavoured to make assurance doubly sure by working on theirsuperstitious fears.

  "Tell Mbango," said he to our guide, "that though we be small in numberswe are very powerful; that we can do deeds" (here he became awfullysolemn and mysterious) "such as no black man ever conceived of; and thatif a hair of the head of Okandaga is hurt, we will on our return--"

  Instead of completing the sentence, Peterkin started up, threw himselfinto violent contortions, rolled his eyes in a fearful manner, and, inshort, gave the chief and his people to understand that something quiteindescribable and unutterably terrible would be the result of theirplaying us false.

  "Send for Njamie," said Mbango to one of his retainers.

  Njamie, who was the chief's principal wife, soon appeared. She led asturdy little boy by the hand. He was her only son, and a very finelittle fellow, despite the blackness of his skin and his almost totalwant of clothing.

  To this woman Mbango gave Okandaga in charge, directing her in ourpresence how to care for her, and assuring her of the most terriblepunishment should anything befall the woman committed to her care.

  Njamie was a mild, agreeable woman. She had more modesty of demeanourand humility of aspect than the most of the women of her tribe whom wehappened to see, so that we felt disposed to believe that Okandaga wasplaced in as safe keeping as it was possible for us to provide for herin our circumstances. Even Makarooroo appeared to be quite at ease inhis mind; and it was evidently with a relieved breast and a light heartthat he bade adieu to his bride, and started along with us on thefollowing 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 bysending them on in advance with the canoe under Jack's care, a few hoursbefore we brought Okandaga into the village, or even made mention of herexistence; and we secured their ready obedience to our orders, and totalindifference as to our motives in these incomprehensible actions, bygiving them each a few inches of tobacco--a gift which rendered themsupremely happy.

  One day, about a week after the events above narrated, we met with anadventure which well-nigh cost Jack his life, but which ultimatelyresulted in an important change in our manner of travelling. We weretraversing an extremely beautiful country with the goods on ourshoulders, having, in consequence of the increasing turbulence of theriver as well as its change of direction, been compelled to abandon ourcanoe, and cut across the country in as straight a line as its naturewould permit. But this was not easy, for the grass, which was brightgreen, was so long as to reach sometimes higher than our shoulders.

  In this species of country Jack's towering height really became of greatuse, enabling him frequently to walk along with his head above thesurrounding herbage, while we were compelled to grope along, ignorant ofall that was around us save the tall grass at our sides. Occasionally,however, we came upon more open ground, where the grass was short, andthen we enjoyed the lovely scenery to the full. We met with a greatvariety of new plants and trees in this region. Many of the latter werefestooned with wild vines and other climbing plants. Among others, Isaw several specimens of that curious and interesting tree the banyan,with its drop-shoots in every state of growth--some beginning to pointtowards the earth, in which they were ultimately destined to take root;some more than half-way down; while others were already fixed, formingstout pillars to their parent branches--thus, as it were, on reachingmaturity, rendering that support which it is the glory as well as theprivilege of youth to accord to age. Besides these, there were wilddates and palmyra trees, and many others too numerous to mention, butthe peculiar characteristics of which I carefully jotted down in mynote-book. Many small water-courses were crossed, in some of which Makpointed out a number of holes, which he said were made by elephantswading in them. He also told us that several mud-pools, which seemed tohave been recently and violently stirred up, were caused by thewallowing of the rhinoceros; so we kept at all times a sharp lookout fora shot.

  Lions were also numerous in this neighbourhood, and we constantly heardthem roaring at night, but seldom saw them during our march.

  Well, as I have already remarked, one day we were travelling somewhatslowly through the long grass of this country, when, feeling oppressedby the heat, as well as somewhat fatigued with my load, I called toJack, who was in advance, to stop for a few minutes to rest.

  "Most willingly," he replied, throwing down his load, and wiping awaythe perspiration which stood in large drops on his brow. "I was on thepoint 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, andseemed to be excessively hot, looked up with a comical expression ofcountenance, 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 quitesorry 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 togaze round him.

  "I say, Peterkin," said Jack, "why are you a very clever fellow justnow?"

  "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 receivingthe punishment.

  "Shabby fellow!" cried Peterkin, rubbing his head. "But, I say, do letme up again. I thought, just as you dropped me, that I saw a placewhere the grass is short. Ay, there it is, fifty yards or so ahead ofus, with a palmyra tree on it. Come, let us go rest there, for Iconfess that I feel somewhat smothered in this long grass."

  We took up our packs immediately, and carried them to the spotindicated, which we found almost free from long grass. Here we lay downto enjoy the delightful shade of the tree, and the magnificent view ofthe country around us. Our negroes also seemed to enjoy the shade, butthey were evidently not nearly so much oppressed with the heat as wewere, which was very natural. They seemed to have no perception of thebeautiful in nature, however, although they appreciated fully theagreeable influences by which they were surrounded.

  While I lay at the foot of that tree, pondering this subject, I observeda very strange-looking insect engaged in a very curious kind ofoccupation. Peterkin's eye caught sight of it at the same instant withmine.

  "Hollo! Jack, look here!" he cried in a whisper. "I declare, here's abeast been and shoved its head into a hole, and converted its tail intoa trap!"

  We all three lay down as quietly as possible, and I could not but smilewhen I thought of the literal correctness of my friend's quaintdescription of what we saw.

  The insect was a species of ant-eater. It was about an inch and aquarter long, as thick as a crow-quill, and covered with black hair. Itput its head into a little hole in the ground, and quivered its tailrapidly. The ants, which seemed to be filled with curiosity at thispeculiar sight, went near to see what the strange thing could be; and nosooner did one come within the range of the forceps on the insect'stail, than it was snapped up.

  "Now, that is the most original trapper I ever did see or hear of,"remarked Pete
rkin, with a broad grin. "I've seen many things in mytravels, but I never expected to meet with a beast that could catchothers by merely wagging its tail."

  "You forget the hunters of North America," said Jack, "who entice littleantelopes towards them by merely wagging a bit of rag on the end of aramrod."

  "I forget nothing of the sort," retorted Peterkin. "Wagging a ramrod isnot wagging a tail. Besides, I spoke of beasts doing it; men are notbeasts."

  "Then I hold you self-convicted, my boy," exclaimed Jack; "for you haveoften called _me_ a beast."

  "By no means, Jack. I am not self-convicted, but quite correct, as Ican prove to the satisfaction of any one who isn't a philosopher. Younever 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 herose and resumed his load.

  At that moment Mak uttered an exclamation, and pointed towards aparticular spot in the plain before us, where, close by a clump oftrees, we saw the graceful head and neck and part of the shoulders of agiraffe. We were naturally much excited at the sight, this being thefirst we had fallen in with.

  "You'd better go after it," said Jack to Peterkin, "and take Mak withyou."

  "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 onefeels made of iron, as if nothing could tire one; and the next, onefeels quite weak and spiritless."

  "Well, I'll go; but I shall not take any one with me.--Take observationof the sun, Mak, and keep a straight course as you are now going untilnight. D'ye see yonder ridge?"

  "Yes, massa."

  "Then hold on direct for that, and encamp there. I'll not be longbehind you, and hope to bring you a giraffe steak for supper."

  We endeavoured to dissuade Jack from going out alone, but he said trulythat his load distributed among us all was quite sufficient, withoutadding to it by taking away another member of the party. Thus weparted; but I felt a strange feeling of depression, a kind of forebodingof evil, which I could not shake off, despite my utmost efforts.Peterkin, too, was unusually silent, and I could not avoid seeing thathe felt more anxiety on account of Jack's rashness than he was willingto allow. Our friend took with him one of our large-bore rifles, and adouble-barrel of smaller bore slung at his back.

  Shortly after parting with him, we descried an ostrich feeding in theplain before us. I had long desired to meet with a specimen of thisgigantic bird in its native wilds, and Peterkin was equally anxious toget a shot at it; so we called a halt, and prepared to stalk it. Wewere aware that the ostrich is a very silly and very timid bird, but notbeing aware of the best method of hunting it, we asked Makarooroo toexplain 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 howmuch fast hims go. You no can see him's legs; dey go same as legs obleetle 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; himstink you wants to get round him, so off him start to git past you, andbefore 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 alldat."

  "Well then, Mak, after that lucid explanation, what d'you propose thatwe 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 spotsindicated, and our guide set off towards an exposed place, where heintended to show himself. In a few minutes we observed the giganticbird look up in alarm, and then we saw Makarooroo running like a deerover the plain. The ostrich instantly rushed off madly at full speed,not, as might have been expected, in a contrary direction, or towardsany place of shelter, but simply, as it appeared to me, with no otherend in view than that of getting to windward of his supposed enemy. Iobserved that he took a direction which would quickly bring him withinrange of my companion's rifle, but I was so amazed at the speed withwhich he ran that I could think of nothing else.

  Every one knows that the ostrich has nothing worthy of the name ofwings--merely a small tuft of feathers at each side, with which hecannot 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 groundnearly at the ordinary speed of a locomotive engine. I proved this tomy own satisfaction by taking accurate observation. On first observingthe tremendous speed at which he was going, I seized my note-book, andpulling out my watch, endeavoured to count the number of steps he tookin a minute. This, however, I found was totally impossible; for hislegs, big though they were, went so fast that I could no more count themthan 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-bookand rifle, and stood with my watch in hand, ready to note the preciseinstants at which he should pass the first and second. By afterwardscounting the number of footsteps on the ground between the bushes, andcomparing 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 glancedagain. Thus I noted that he took exactly ten seconds to pass from onebush to the other. While I was in the act of jotting this down I heardthe report of Peterkin's rifle, and looking up hastily, saw thetail-feathers of the ostrich knocked into the air, but the bird itselfpassed on uninjured. I was deeply mortified at this failure, and allthe more so that, from past experience, I had been led to believe thatmy 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 atfirst.

  "Ah!" said he, "it's all very well for you to say, `What has come overyou?' but you ought to make allowance for a man who has carried a heavyload all the forenoon. Besides, he was almost beyond range. Moreover,although I have hunted a good deal, I really have not been in the habitof firing at animal locomotives under full steam. Did you ever see sucha slapping pace and such an outrageous pair of legs, Ralph?"

  "Never," said I. "But come with me to yonder bushes. I'm going to makea 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--andmay 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 atpresent I know not. Perhaps he's going to try to find out whether, ifwe were to run at the rate of six miles an hour till doomsday, in thewrong direction, there would be any chance of our ever sticking thatostrich'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 thisbird had taken measured fourteen feet in length! I always carried arolled-up yard-measure about with me, which I applied to the steps, sothat I could make no mistake. There were exactly thirty of thosegigantic paces between the two bushes. This multiplied by six gave 180steps, or 2,520 feet in one minute, which resulted in 151,200 feet, or50,400 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 circumstancesyou hit the bird at all."

  On further examination of the place wh
ere we had seen the ostrich beforeit was alarmed, we ascertained that his ordinary walking pace variedfrom twenty to twenty-six inches in length.

  After this unsuccessful hunt we returned to our comrades, and proceededto the rendezvous where we expected to find Jack; but as he was notthere, we concluded that he must have wandered farther than he intended,so, throwing down our packs, we set about preparing the camp and a goodsupper against his return. Gradually the sun began to sink low on thehorizon; then he dipped below it, and the short twilight of thoselatitudes was rapidly merging into night; but Jack did not return, andthe uneasiness which we had all along felt in regard to him increased somuch 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 somedesperate 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 atonce seconded my companion's proposal, and resolved to accompany him.

  "Take your double-barrel, Ralph, and I'll lend our spare big gun toMak."

  "But how are we to proceed? which way are we to go? I have not the mostdistant 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 theprobable 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 thatsort if anything has befallen him. Now, then, let's go."

  Leaving our men in charge of the camp, with strict injunctions to keepgood watch and not allow the fires to go down, lest they should beattacked by lions, we three set forth on our nocturnal search. Fromtime to time we stood still and shouted in a manner that would let ourlost friend know that we were in search of him, should he be withinearshot, but no answering cry came back to us; and we were beginning todespair, when we came upon the footprints of a man in the soft soil of aswampy spot we had to cross. It was a clear moonlight night, so that wecould 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 withwhich our guide made this statement; for after a most carefulexamination of the prints, which were exceedingly indistinct, I coulddiscern 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 printsmore 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 printof 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 footfor 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 thatthese deviated from side to side in an extraordinary manner, as if theperson who made them had been unable to walk straight. In a few minutesmore we came on the footprints of a rhinoceros--a sight which stillfurther increased our alarm. On coming out from among a clump of lowbushes that skirted the edge of a small plain, we observed a dark objectlying on the ground about fifty yards distant from us. I almost sankdown with an undefinable feeling of dread on beholding this.

  We held our rifles in readiness as we approached it at a quick pace, forwe knew not whether it was not a wild animal which might spring upon usthe moment we came close enough. But a few seconds dispelled our dreadof such an attack and confirmed our worst fears, for there, in a pool ofblood, 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 coveredwith blood. His clothes were rent and dishevelled and covered withdust, as if he had struggled hard with some powerful foe, and all roundthe spot were footprints of a rhinoceros, revealing too clearly thecharacter of the terrible monster with which our friend had engaged inunequal conflict.

  Peterkin darted forward, tore open Jack's shirt at the breast, and laidhis 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 attachedto the flask, and handed it to Peterkin, who, after moistening Jack'slips, began assiduously to rub his chest and forehead with brandy.Kneeling down by his side I assisted him, while I applied some to hisfeet. While we were thus engaged we observed that our poor friend'sarms and chest had received several severe bruises and some slightwounds, and we also discovered a terrible gash in his right thigh whichhad evidently been made by the formidable horn of the rhinoceros. This,and the other wounds which were still bleeding pretty freely, westanched and bound up, and our exertions were at length rewarded by thesight of a faint tinge of colour returning to Jack's cheeks. Presentlyhis eyes quivered, and heaving a short, broken sigh, he looked up.

  "Where am I, eh? Why, what's wrong? what has happened?" he askedfaintly, in a tone of surprise.

  "All right, old boy. Here, take a swig of this, you abominablegorilla," said Peterkin, holding the brandy-flask to his mouth, whileone 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'vebeen hurt--the rhinoceros; eh, have you killed it? I gave it a goodshot. It must have been mortal, I think."

  "Whether you've killed it or not I cannot tell," said I, taking off mycoat and putting it under Jack's head for a pillow, "but it has prettynearly killed _you_. Do you feel worse, Jack?"

  I asked this in some alarm, observing that he had turned deadly paleagain.

  "He's fainted, man; out o' the way!" cried Peterkin, as he applied thebrandy 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 carryhim on."

  "I say, Ralph," whispered Jack faintly, "do look to my wounds and seethat they are all tightly bound up. I can't afford to lose another dropof blood. It's almost all drained away, I believe."

  While I examined my friend's wounds and readjusted the bandages, mycompanions cut down two poles. These we laid on the ground parallel toeach other and about two feet apart, and across them laid our threecoats, which we fastened in a rough fashion by means of some strongcords which I fortunately happened to have with me. On this rude litterwe laid our companion, and raised him on our shoulders. Peterkin and Iwalked in rear, each supporting one of the poles; while Makarooroo,being the stoutest of the three, supported the entire weight of theother ends on his broad shoulders. Jack bore the moving better than wehad expected, so that we entertained sanguine hopes that no bones werebroken, but that loss of blood was all he had to suffer from.

  Thus slowly and with much difficulty we bore our wounded comrade to thecamp.