538 THE WORLD'S WONDERS 



TERRIBLE COMBAT WITH A GORILLA, 



SOME time after this event Du Chaillu went on another gorilla 

 hunt, taking with him six companions, all of whom he armed 

 with guns, in anticipation of an exciting adventure, for the male 

 gorilla is the only wild animal that does not fear man. Ths hunt 

 is thus described by Du Chaillu : 



"Our little party separated, as is the custom, to stalk the 

 woods in various directions. One brave fellow went off alona ir. 

 a direction where he thought he could find a gorilla. The other 

 three took another course. We had been about an hour separated 

 when Gumbo and I heard a gun fired but a little way from us, 

 and presently another. We were already on our way to the spot 

 where we hoped to see a gorilla slain, when the forest began to 

 resound with the most terrific roars. Gumbo seized my arms in 

 great agitation, and we hurried on, both filled with a, dreadful 

 and sickening fear. We had not gone far when our worst fears 

 were realized. The poor brave fellow who had gone off alone 

 was lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood, and I thought 

 at first quite dead. Beside him lay his gun. The stock was 

 broken and the barrel was bent and flattened. It bore plainly 

 the marks of the gorilla's teeth. 



"We picked him up, and I dressed his wounds as well as I 

 could with rags torn from my clothes. When I had given him a 

 little brandy to drink he came to himself, and was able, but with 

 great difficulty, to speak. He said that he had met the gorilla 

 suddenly and face to face, and that it had not attempted to 

 escape. It was, he said, a huge male, and seemed very savage. 

 It was in a very gloomy part of the woods, and the darkness 

 made him miss. He said he took good aim, and fired when the 

 beast was only about eight yards off. The ball merely wounded 

 it in the side. It at once began beating its breasts, and with the 

 greatest rage advanced upon him. To run away was impossible. 

 He would have been caught in the jungle before he had gone a 

 dozen steps. 



" He stood his ground, and as quickly as he could reloaded his 

 gun. Just as he raised it to fire, the gorilla dashed it out of his 



