CHAPTER LXXX. 



A BATTLE OF GIANTS. 



YP explained that a female chimpanzee with a single young one was eating 

 a species of berry a short distance off among the undergrowth. He had 

 caught only a glimpse of them, but they were unaware of his presence, and 

 lie believed that, by using care, they could capture the little one. It was probable 

 that the male was not far off, though the native had not seen him. 



The plan of the hunters was simple. They were to separate and surround the 

 animals before showing themselves. Gyp would take station behind a tree, while 

 his companions started the couple toward him. Then he would have to exercise 

 his skill in flinging the net over the intended victim. 



Pausing only long enough to make sure the scheme was understood by all, the 

 hunters immediately parted company, each falling back so far that he was sure of 

 being out of sight of the chimpanzees until he should begin closing in upon them. 



This movement was pressed with so much care, that a half hour passed before 

 our friends commenced to draw in their lines. Unable to see each other, their 

 actions were governed by signals, so skillfully emitted that no ears except those for 

 which they were intended read their meaning. 



Bob Marshall was the first to catch sight of the creatures, and his heart gave a 

 throb of pleasure when he saw the comical mother plucking the small, crimson 

 berries, while her offspring frolicked around her like a kitten. Some of the antics 

 of the latter were so comical that Bob could not help smiling. While the mother 

 was gathering the fruit her offspring would jump upon her back, skurry up her 

 shoulders, and hop from her crown before she could give it a cuff with her paw. 



Catching the signal, the youth stepped forward with a rustling that caused the 

 mother instantly to stop eating and look up. Seeing the strange figure, she uttered 

 a sharp, warning cry and scampered off in an opposite direction, taking care, how- 

 ever, that her pace was so graduated that she did not pass beyond her progeny. 



Unfortunately for the couple, their course led them straight for the tree where 

 fate in the form of Gyp was awaiting them. The situations of Hargo and Jack 

 Harvey gave them a view of what was going on, but they did not expose themselves, 

 since the creatures were going right, and it would have been imprudent to interfere. 



Bob followed at such a leisurely pace that in a minute or two he had fallen 

 almost out of sight of the game. The mother continued hopping and running un- 

 til she had placed herself a long way in front. Then, as if to learn whether she 

 was still pursued, she stopped and looked around, chattering and frightened. Her 

 little one, too young to understand their peril, frisked about like a puppy so full 

 of life that it cannot keep still. 



