shot was fired. I can compare it to nothing, for nothing I ever
heard was like it. If the reader can conceive a human fiend endued with
a voice far louder than that of the lion, yet retaining a little of the
intonation both of the man's voice and of what we should suppose a
fiend's voice to be, he may form some slight idea of what that roar was.
It is impossible to describe it. Perhaps Mak's expression in regard to
it is the most emphatic and truthful: it was absolutely "_horriboble_!"
Every one has heard a sturdy, well-grown little boy, when being
thrashed, howling at the very top of his bent. If one can conceive of a
full-grown male giant twenty feet high pouring forth his whole soul and
voice with similarly unrestrained fervour, he may approximate to a
notion of it.

And it was not uttered once or twice, but again and again, until the
whole woods trembled with it, and we felt as if our ears could not
endure more of it without the tympanums being burst.

For several moments we stood motionless with our guns ready, expecting
an immediate attack, and gazing with awe, not unmingled--at least on my
part--with fear, at the turmoil of leaves and twigs and broken branches
that was going on round the spot where the monster had been wounded.

"Come," cried Jack at length, losing patience and springing forward; "if
he won't attack us we must attack him."

We followed close on his heels, and next moment emerged upon a small and
comparatively open space, in the midst of which we found the gorilla
seated on the ground, tearing up the earth with its hands, grinning
horribly and beating its chest, which sent forth a loud hollow sound as
if it were a large drum. We saw at once that both its thighs had been
broken by Peterkin's shot.

Of all the hideous creatures I had ever seen or heard of, none came up
in the least degree to this. Apart altogether from its gigantic size,
this monster was calculated to strike terror into the hearts of
beholders simply by the expression of its visage, which was quite
satanic. I could scarcely persuade myself that I was awake. It seemed
as if I were gazing on one of those hideous creatures one beholds when
oppressed with nightmare.

But we had little time to indulge in contemplation, for the instant the
brute beheld us it renewed its terrible roar, and attempted to spring
up; but both its legs at once gave way, and it fell with a passionate
growl, biting the earth, and twisting and tearin