R. M. Ballantyne
The Gorilla Hunters (Musaicum Adventure Classics)
Adventure Novel: A Tale of the Wilds of Africa
Published by
Books
- Advanced Digital Solutions & High-Quality eBook Formatting -
2020 OK Publishing
EAN 4064066385736
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I. In which the hunters are introduced.
CHAPTER II. Life in the wild woods.
CHAPTER III. Wherein I mount guard, and how I did it, etcetera.
CHAPTER IV. Wherein will be found much that is philosophical.
CHAPTER V. Preparations for a grand hunt.
CHAPTER VI. Dreaming and feeding and bloody work enlarged upon.
CHAPTER VII. We Circumvent the Natives.
CHAPTER VIII. Peterkin distinguishes himself, and Okandaga is disposed of, etcetera.
CHAPTER IX. I discover a curious insect, and Peterkin takes a strange flight.
CHAPTER X. Water Appreciated—Destructive Files, Etcetera.
CHAPTER XI. How We Met With Our First Gorilla, And How We Served Him.
CHAPTER XII. Peterkin’s Schoolday Reminiscences.
CHAPTER XIII. We get into “The Thick of it”—Great Success.
CHAPTER XIV. Our Plans are Suddenly Altered—Wicked Designs Discovered.
CHAPTER XV. An unexpected meeting—We fly, and I make a narrow escape from an appalling fate.
CHAPTER XVI. An unfortunate delay, and a terrible visitor.
CHAPTER XVII. We visit a natural menagerie, see wonderful sights, and meet with strange adventures.
CHAPTER XVIII. Strange and terrible discoveries—Jack is made commander-in-chief of an army.
CHAPTER XIX. Preparations for War, and Peculiar Drill.
CHAPTER XX. A Warlike Expedition and a Victory.
CHAPTER XXI. Arrangements for pursuing the enemy, and sudden change of plans.
CHAPTER XXII. We Meet with a Ludicrously Awful Adventure.
CHAPTER XXIII. We see strange things, and give our negro friends the slip.
CHAPTER XXIV. A Long Chase, and a Happy Termination Thereof.
CHAPTER XXV. I Have a Desperate Encounter and a Narrow Escape.
CHAPTER ONE.
In which the hunters are introduced.
It was five o’clock in the afternoon. There can be no doubt whatever as to that. Old Agnes may say what she pleases—she has a habit of doing so—but I know for certain (because I looked at my watch not ten minutes before it happened) that it was exactly five o’clock in the afternoon when I received a most singular and every way remarkable visit—a visit which has left an indelible impression on my memory, as well it might; for, independent of its singularity and unexpectedness, one of its results was the series of strange adventures which are faithfully detailed in this volume.
It happened thus:—
I was seated in an armchair in my private study in a small town on the west coast of England. It was a splendid afternoon, and it was exactly five o’clock. Mark that. Not that there is anything singular about the mere fact, neither is it in any way mixed up with the thread of this tale; but old Agnes is very obstinate—singularly positive—and I have a special desire that she should see it in print, that I have not given in on that point. Yes, it was five precisely, and a beautiful evening. I was ruminating, as I frequently do, on the pleasant memories of bygone days, especially the happy days that I spent long ago among the coral islands of the Pacific, when a tap at the door aroused me.
“Come in.”
“A veesiter, sir,” said old Agnes (my landlady), “an’ he’ll no gie his name.”
Old Agnes, I may remark, is a Scotchwoman.
“Show him in,” said I.
“Maybe he’s a pickpocket,” suggested Agnes.
“I’ll take my chance of that.”
“Ay! that’s like ’ee. Cares for naethin’. Losh, man, what if he cuts yer throat?”
“I’ll take my chance of that too; only do show him in, my good woman,” said I, with a gesture of impatience that caused the excellent (though obstinate) old creature to depart, grumbling.
In another moment a quick step was heard on the stair, and a stranger burst into the room, shut the door in my landlady’s face as she followed him, and locked it.
I was naturally surprised, though not alarmed, by the abrupt and eccentric conduct of my visitor, who did not condescend to take off his hat, but stood with his arms folded on his breast, gazing at me and breathing hard.
“You are agitated, sir; pray be seated,” said I, pointing to a chair.
The stranger, who was a little man and evidently a gentleman, made no reply, but, seizing a chair, placed it exactly before me, sat down on it as he would have seated himself on