There was nothing ridiculous about him, but a combination of all that was revolting, bestial, and terrifying. His flat forehead and pent brows; his dreadful jaws, which were slightly open in a senile kind of leer that exhibited his fangs; his shapeless, bulging paunch, short legs, deep chest, and long arms covered with dingy-looking hair,--he looked the embodiment of brutality, loathsome ugliness, and ferocious strength. The first glance made them shiver with horror, the second filled them with the desire to kill this half-human, wholly fiend-like monstrosity. The tree under which this awful group sat grew on the edge of a precipice, while in front of them the torrent could be seen and heard as it fell into the chasm, with a sound like thunder, from a lofty cliff. With that thundering in their ears, and the vibration of the covered rocks under their feet, they did not fear being heard by the brutes in front of them, Cocoeni made a silent sign, and the hunters crept through the leafage to make a half-circle round the still unconscious family party. While they were doing this, he drew back and whispered to Ned-- "Don't shoot till I give you the sign. I know how to manage this fellow." "So do I," replied Ned--"from what I have read." "All right. Now for him." Cocoeni stepped into the open, holding his gun ready, while our heroes followed him. They knew that they must kill with the first shot or it would be all over with them. Neither of the baboons had heard them, but they had got the scent of the other hunters, and looked up sniffing the air suspiciously. In a moment the male baboon saw his foes, and scrambled upright, fixing his wicked and ferocious eyes upon them. With a roar that eclipsed the thunder of the waterfall and echoed horribly in their ears, he opened his jaws, and grinned on them, showing all his teeth. A tremor passed over them, and for a moment unnerved them--he was so horribly like an exaggerated Kruger as he stood there glaring at them. He gallantly waddled in front of his wife and child, covering them with his ponderous body, while she sat still and waited. This action on his part the young men could not but admire. With another fierce roar he stopped, and beat upon his stomach with both hands until it sounded like a big drum. He was getting ready for the fight, and bidding defiance to them. Three more paces did he advance, then he once more stood still, and made the forest resound with his cries and drum-beating; then he threw his arms out, and crouched ready for the spring. He was about two yards' distance from them by this time. "Fire!" shouted Cocoeni. Two rifles belched out at the same moment. Ned and Fred had fired off, while Cocoeni and Clarence stood ready. The monster flung up its arms and fell on his face without a moan. He had been pierced through the heart and lungs.