64 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



caught in the multifarious branches, while the gorilla 

 watched him coolly. When the former began to descend 

 the latter did the same. 



'' We have him," cried 1. malting signs to the men to 

 silentl}^ surround the base of the tree. 



" Not yet, massa," replied the less sanguine Thursday, 

 whose doubt was justified Ijy wdly Joseph, wdio, seeing the 

 unfriendly circle immediately below him, went rapidly up 

 the tree again, avoiding the would-be captor's net, and, 

 in fact, climbing directly over his body witliout wasting 

 time to bite him as he went, and again taking up his old 

 quarters in the very top of the tree. The native renewed 

 his pursuit, and the same comedy was repeated several 

 times, until, from sheer exhaustion, the chase had to be 

 abandoned. 



The king, however, suggested a stratagem which 

 proved successful. Guarding the tree till night we 

 stretched our net around the base of the tree, with a man 

 in hiding holding its lines. Joseph, thinking the field 

 clear, came down from his perch, was forthwith captured, 

 thrashed, and put back into his cage. Thursday confided 

 to me that this wretched little monster must be bewitched 

 by an evil spirit and that I could never tame it. What- 

 ever the cause, his conclusion was certainly correct. In 

 spite of all my care and watchfulness I could do nothing 

 with his savage habits. Indeed, captivity seemed to add 

 each day to his intractability and ferocity. He had come 

 to know me, and wdien he saw me going by and was 



I 



