the boughs. I felt very unwilling to
get up, and when I began to move I discovered that my limbs were
somewhat stiff from the hardness of my couch. At length I rose, and,
kneeling down, thanked Heaven for the protection which had been afforded
me. I now began to feel the sensations of hunger. I hoped, however,
that I might be able to find something with which to satisfy my
appetite, and enable me to continue my search for my friends. It was
important to lose no time; I accordingly descended, letting myself down
by the vine. I could now, guided by the sun, steer a tolerably straight
course. I judged that if I proceeded to the north-east I should in
time, though I might miss my travelling companions, at all events reach
King Sanga Tanga's village. I looked about me, half expecting to see
the monster who had passed by in the evening, walk out from behind some
thick bushes which grew around. I stood close to the very tree by which
I had seen the creature supporting itself, and although I hoped that it
had gone on to a distance, I felt a disinclination to camp at that spot.
I had, fortunately, some matches and a tinder-box in my pocket, so that
I could light a fire as soon as I had something to cook at it. I had
not gone far when a chorus of loud screams announced the approach of a
flock of grey parrots, which were issuing forth from their
resting-places in search of berries and nuts. Crouching down behind a
bush, I allowed them to come so close to me that I shot a couple, and
knocked down a third with the barrel of my gun before it had time to fly
off. Slinging them over my shoulder, I trudged on until I came to the
bank of a small stream. Going along it I found an open spot, in the
centre of which I could kindle a fire without the risk of setting light
to the neighbouring trees. I quickly had two of my parrots plucked, and
by means of the usual wooden spit, soon had them roasting. Before
sitting down, I looked carefully around to ascertain that no monster ape
was near, likely to invite himself to the repast. I must own it, I was
seized with a sort of horror of the monster apes, and as I went along I
could not help every now and then looking over my shoulder, expecting to
see one following. I dreaded the thought of an encounter with one of
the creatures far more than I did with a leopard or lion. I hurried
over my breakfast, and having taken a good draught from the bright
stream, filled up my water bottle,