IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



horrid sight. The brute's eyes were sunken, while 

 a heavy overhanging ridge was over each. He gave 

 vent to yell after yell, resembling somewhat the bark- 

 ing of an angry dog, but seeming to me a thousand 

 times louder. These were followed by terrific roars, 

 somewhat similar to those of lions, but louder. They 

 reverberated through the forest, from hill to hill, and 

 died away in the distance. The forest was filled with 

 the echo of his horrid voice. 



Then his whole body came in sight ; he was advanc- 

 ing towards us, walking erect, to kill us. His short 

 legs were scarcely strong enough to support his huge 

 body. All at once he stopped and looked at us. 

 How vindictive his eyes looked ! They seemed to 

 say to us : " You will soon be dead." 



Then he beat his chest with his huge fist. How 

 long and muscular were his powerful arms ! How 

 broad was his chest ! His hair stood almost erect 

 on his body, and the hair on his head moved up 

 and down. 



But our guns had been pointed at him from the 

 moment we saw him, and just as he was ready to 

 advance we fired in the direction of his heart, and the 

 great monster fell like a human being, face forward, 

 uttering a fearful groan, his limbs stretched out. 

 Then all became silent. He was dead. 



78 



