that we could not hear our own voices, as we spoke to one another!

About their design there could be no doubt: they were evidently
advancing to attack us: and the reason why they did not rush forward at
once may have been that they had some dread of approaching the fire; or
perhaps they had not yet made up their minds as to what sort of enemies
we were.

It was not likely, however, that the fire would keep them off for any
long period of time. They would soon become accustomed to it; and, in
fact, every moment they appeared to gain confidence and drew nearer and
nearer.

What was to be done? Against such a host we could not defend ourselves,
not for five minutes, had we been armed ever so well. The powerful
brutes would have pulled us down in the twinkling of an eye, and torn us
to pieces with their strong hog-like tusks. Defence would be idle--
there was no other mode of escape than to endeavour to get away from the
ground.

But how? to climb up into the tree would not avail us, though it had
saved us from the lion. These mandrills could climb better than we;
they would soon overtake us, and tear us to pieces among the branches.

We next thought of running out into the open ground, and escaping by
flight. Probably we should have made the attempt, but turn which way we
might we saw that the baboons were in the way--a complete circle of them
had formed around us, several ranks deep; and had we attempted to pass
through them, it was plain they could have seized upon us and dragged us
down. In short, we were surrounded, and our retreat cut off.

We were fairly at a stand, and could think of no means of escape. And
yet to remain where we were, was to be attacked to a certainty; for
every moment the threatening ranks were closing around us--still
continuing to utter the same horrid cries--which, probably, were partly
meant to terrify us, and partly to encourage each other in the outset.
I am very sure that but for the fire--which was no doubt a strange sight
to them--they would not have wasted time in the attack, but would have
sprung forward upon us at once. But the fire, which they still appeared
to regard with some degree of suspicion, held them back.

Perceiving this, my companion bethought him of a means of farther
putting them in fear; and, calling me to follow his example, he caught
up one of the blazing faggots, and, rushing out towards the nearest,
waved the brand in their faces. I did as I saw h