HOME AGAIN. 



It would not do to miss hitting this monster at the first fire, for, as you will 

 recall, Hargo's gun was a single-barrel. He knew his peril, and, with the coolness 

 of ft veteran, stood his ground, calmly awaiting the moment when the gorilla should 

 be so close that a failure of aim was out of the 

 question. 



It would seem that that point was reached 

 when he was within twenty paces, but Hargo 

 held his fire until half that distance sepa- 

 rated them, when he brought his gun to his 

 shoulder, took aim at the point over the 

 heart of the animal, and, with the 

 muzzle of his weapon almost within 

 reach of his paw, pulled trigger. 



Alas 1 the piece missed 

 fire, and the instant it 

 did so the African 

 knew he was 



doomed. Hastily clubbing hk 

 gun, he made a sweeping blow at 

 the monster, who bounded forward 

 with the fury of his brother assail- 

 ing the leopard. 



The blow landed, but produced 

 no more effect than if it had struck 

 JUST Too LAT. the side of a tree. In an instant 



the weapon was wrenched from his 



grasp by a single paw of the gorilla, who smote the man with his other, the blow 

 crushing his skull as though it had been card-board, and striking him to the earth, 

 dead almost before he fell. 



