When we gave vent to our ardent appeals for the companionship of our tribe, the sounds of busy life around us continued with unabated industry--a great compliment to our power of imitative animal articulation. We, and our cage, and the statuesque negroes in the two back corners, were definitely part and parcel of the jungle. We were being accepted by its folk, sheltered by its encompassing vegetation, and warmed and moistened by its atmosphere. So acclimatized did I feel that I ventured further out into the open and joined Stringer. "There doesn't seem to be anything doing yet," I whispered in civilized, human slang. "It's a game of patience. We may have to wait hours or even days. We'll bring a book to read to-morrow." "Might frighten them." "Not if you kept it well out of sight in this long grass." "Yes! . . . We could take it in turns. It would never do for both of us to get absorbed in a yarn. One would have to watch while the other read." At this point our conversation suddenly ceased. We had heard the sharp crack of breaking twigs in some spot immediately behind us. Turning swiftly but cautiously, we peered at the dense green tangle of leaves and branches, trying to make our gaze penetrate into the gloomy interior of the forest. With great presence of mind, Stringer also began making little whimpering and seductive noises at the back of his throat, like a female gorilla in distress. The noise stopped and I was conscious--with every high-strung nerve in my body!--that we were being watched. Was it with curiosity, with malicious intent, or with fear? And by _what_? Had the fateful hour at last struck? Were all our plans and preparations for the previous six months now to be put to the great test? Were we facing victory, or defeat--or death? As these thoughts sped through my mind I became aware of a feeling of intense exhilaration. I was eager to see what stark and naked peril lay behind the shelter of those harmless trees and bushes. To have advanced towards the spot with the intention of making closer investigations would have been foolish. It might frighten away our unseen watcher, or lead to a sudden attack which would take us unawares. So Stringer and I commenced slowly waddling back to our cage, with gas nozzles and revolvers in readiness for instant use. As we moved, we made a pretence of eating the plentiful supply of nuts and white-ribbed pineapple leaves which we had brought with us. At the same time we emitted alluring noises signifying "food." Surely no _male_ gorilla, at any rate, would be able to resist this joint attraction of food and mates! We were mistaken, however, for presently we heard faint and stealthy movements of retreat and a few moments later our ears were listening to only the constant: _Drip! . . . Drip! . . . Drip! . . ._ of the jungle. "Damn!" I whispered to Stringer.