14 THE GORILLA. 



the morning, explored for many hours the thickets and 

 least approachable parts of the forest, but without find- 

 ing the faintest trace of a gorilla, when suddenly one 

 of the men uttered a little " cluck" with his tongue, 

 which is the native's way of showing that something is 

 stirring, and at the same time M. du Chaillu thought 

 he heard seemingly ahead of him the noise as of 

 some one breaking down the branches or twigs of trees. 

 "This was the gorilla, I knew at once, by the eager 

 and satisfied looks of the men. 



" They looked once more carefully at their guns, to 

 see if by any chance the powder had fallen out of the 

 pans ; I also examined mine, to make sure that all was 

 right ; and then we marched on cautiously. The sin- 

 gular noise of the breaking of tree branches continued ; 

 we walked with the greatest care, making no noise at 

 all. the countenances of the men showed that they 

 thought themselves engaged in a very serious under- 

 taking; but we pushed on, until finally we thought 

 we saw through the thick woods the moving of the 

 branches and small trees, which tlie great beast was 

 tearing down, probably to get from them the berries 

 and fruits he lives on. 



" Suddenly, as we were yet creeping along, in a 

 silence which made a heavy breath seem loud and 

 distinct, the woods were at once filled with the tremen- 

 dous barking roar of the gorilla. 



