138 GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



pressed her hands upon her breast or side to arrest 

 the shock, and thus lessen the pain it caused. 

 When quiet, she sat holding her hands on her 

 throat, her head bowed down, and her eyes droop- 

 ing or closed. Day by day the serpent of disease 

 drew his deadly coils closer and closer about her 

 wasting form, but she bore it with a patience 

 worthy of a human being. 



The sympathy and forbearance of Aaron were 

 again called into action, and the demand was not in 

 vain. Hour after hour he sat with her locked in 

 his arms, as he is seen in the portrait given here- 

 with. He was not posing for a picture, nor was he 

 aware how deeply his manners touched the human 

 heart. Even the brawny men who work about the 

 place paused to watch him in his tender offices to 

 her, and his staid keeper was moved to pity by his 

 kindness and his patience. 



For days she lingered on the verge of death. 

 She became too feeble to sit up, but as she lay on 

 her bed of straw, he sat by her side, resting his 

 folded arms upon her, and refusing to allow any one 

 to touch her. His look of deep concern showed 

 that he felt the gravity of her case, in a degree that 

 bordered on grief. He was grave and silent, as if 

 he foresaw the sad end that was near at hand. My 

 frequent visits were a source of comfort to him, and 

 he evinced a pleasure in my coming that bespoke 

 his confidence in me and faith in my ability to 

 relieve his suffering companion ; but, alas ! she was 

 beyond the aid of human skill. 



