MY FIRST GORILLA. 41 



" That is the female," said Thursday. " Now you see 

 why the gorilla did not attack us. He is in a tremen- 

 dous 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 forest, and then he 

 will come and settle his account with us. But she is 

 undoubtedly suckling her young, and does not wish to 

 come from her retreat, especially without knowing exactly 

 which way to turn to put her offspring in safety." 



In a few moments she seemed to decide, for with a 

 single bound she sprang from her shelter holding a little 

 gorilla, hardly more than a few days old, in her arms. 

 Evidently the little animal had been the cause of her hesi- 

 tation and delay. Her remarkable intelligence showed 

 her almost instantly on which side the danger lay, and 

 facing round, she sprang into the forest without a cry. 



Her departure was saluted by a roar from the male 

 more terrible even than its predecessors. I felt my hair 

 stand on end, as it well might before so remarkable a 

 sisfht. 



At a word from the chief, Thursday said, "Do you 

 want to kill him ? " 



I made a quick gesture of assent. 



" Then," said he, with a glance at the chief, " we must 

 show ourselves at once, or he will escape." 



We stepped quickly out into the clearing toward the 

 brute, who stopped on seeing us coming. 



