The Gorilla Hunters

The Gorilla Hunters, by R.M.
Ballantyne

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Title: The Gorilla Hunters
Author: R.M. Ballantyne
Release Date: June 7, 2007 [EBook #21736]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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GORILLA HUNTERS ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

THE GORILLA HUNTERS, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
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 a horse, rested his arms on the back,
and stared me in the face.
"You are disposed to be facetious," said I, smiling (for I never take
offence without excessively good reason).
"Not at all, by no means," said he, taking off his hat and throwing it
recklessly on the floor. "You are Mr Rover, I presume?"
"The same, sir, at your service."
"Are you? oh, that's yet to be seen! Pray, is your Christian name
Ralph?"
"It is," said I, in some surprise at the coolness of my visitor.
"Ah! just so. Christian name Ralph, t'other name Rover--Ralph Rover.
Very good. Age twenty-two yesterday, eh?"
"My birthday was yesterday, and my age is twenty-two. You appear to
know more of my private history than I have the pleasure of knowing
of yours. Pray, sir, may I--but, bless me! are you unwell?"

I asked this in some alarm, because the little man was rolling about in
his seat, holding his sides, and growing very red in the face.
"Oh no! not at all; perfectly well--never was better in my life," he said,
becoming all at once preternaturally grave. "You were once in the
Pacific--lived on a coral island--"
"I did."
"Oh, don't trouble yourself to answer. Just shut up for a minute or two.
You were rather a soft green youth then, and you don't seem to be
much harder or less verdant now."
"Sir!" I exclaimed, getting angry.
"Just so,"