BABY GORILLAS. 25 



IV. BABY GORILLAS. 



M. DTI CHAILLU, who had killed so many aclult 

 gorillas, had never taken one alive, and he thought 

 it impossible that he ever should do so; but for the 

 young it was a different matter, although the thing 

 presented some difficulties. 



Some hunters whom our traveller had taken into his 

 service had gone out to beat the wood on his account. 

 There were five of them, and as they were going noise- 

 lessly through the forest they heard the cry of a little 

 gorilla calling his mother. It was about noon, and a 

 profound silence reigned around. The cry was heard 

 a second time, and the men, knowing what joy the 

 capture of a young gorilla would cause their master, 

 resolved to go over to the side from whence the sound 

 proceeded. "With their guns cocked they crept into the 

 thicket, where they soon found certain signs that the 

 mother was not far off ; there was also the same ground 

 for supposing that the male was in the neighbourhood ; 

 nevertheless, the brave fellows did not hesitate. In a 

 dead silence, and scarce breathing, they crawled on. At 

 a few yards in advance of them the bushes were shaken, 

 and soon they perceived a young gorilla, seated on 

 the ground eating some berries, and at a short distance 

 sat his mother, occupied in the same way. Just as 



