54 WILD LIFE UNDER THE EQUATOR. 
a sharp bark, like that of an angry dog; then glided 
into a deep bass roll which literally and closely resem- 
bled the roll of distant thunder along the sky. . I have 
heard the lion roar, but greater, deeper, and more fearful 
is the roar of the gorilla. So deep is it that it seems to 
proceed less from the mouth and throat than from the 
deep chest and vast paunch of the beast. 
The earth was literally shaking under my feet as he 
roared, and for a while I knew not where I was. Was 
it an apparition from the infernal regions? Was I asleep 
or not? I was soon reminded that it was not a dream. 
I said quietly to myself— Du Chaillu, if you do not 
kill this gorilla, as sure as you are born he will kill 
you.’©, z 
His eyes began to flash fierce fire as we stood motion- 
less on the defensive, and the crest of short hair which 
stands on his forehead began to twitch rapidly up and 
down and was perfectly frightful to look at. His pow- 
erful fangs, or enormous canines, were shown as he again 
scnt forth a thunderous roar: the red inside of his mouth 
contrasted singularly with his intensely black face. 
- And now truly he reminded me of nothing but 
some hellish dream-creature—a being of that hideous 
order, half man, half beast, which we find pictured by old 
artists In some representations of the infernal regions; 
but nothing they ever painted could approach this horrid 
monster in ugliness. 
He advanced a few steps in a waddling way, for his 
short legs seemed incapable of supporting his huge body ; 
then stopped to utter that hideous roar again—advanced 
again, and finally stopped when at a distance of five or 
six yards from us. And then—as he extended his arms 
ie eames sins 
