strewn on the ground, they prepared
to return. Four of them carried Iguma, who placed her arms round the
necks of two, while the others supported her legs. Before setting off I
was anxious to secure the skin of the huge ape--if ape it was, for it
looked to me, as it lay stretched on the ground, more like some savage
human being of the forest. I pointed it out to the girls, who, I
believe, fancied that the creature had made its escape into the wood.
As soon as they saw it and knew from the signs I made that it was dead,
they began to advance cautiously in the direction where it lay. I went
first, with my knife drawn ready to flay it. They now crept forward,
two or three of the bolder ones in front of the rest, when they would
stop and gaze at the creature, talking to each other, even now
apparently having some doubt whether it was dead or not. Then, as I got
nearer to it and at last gave it a kick or two with my foot, they came
crowding around with more confidence, crying out loudly and chattering
away to each other. I was about to begin to flay it when it struck me
that they would perhaps be unwilling to carry the skin, and I certainly
had no wish to bear it on my own shoulders all the way to the village,
even although the distance might not be great. I tried to make them
understand that if they would send some young men I should be very much
obliged. They, after a little time, took in my meaning, and two of
them, handing their baskets to their companions, set off running.

As I was not particularly anxious to skin the creature myself,
remembering that if I did so I should not be in a very fit state to be
presented to the king and the inhabitants of the village, I accepted the
invitation of the girls to accompany them at once.

Leaving the dead ape to any fate which might befall it, I set off with
my new friends, who now surrounding me, formed themselves into a sort of
triumphal procession. First went Iguma and her supporters, then
followed four of my attendants, then I came with two on either hand, the
rest bringing up the rear, all shouting and singing impromptu verses in
praise of me, for I could tell by certain words that such was the case.
The words were to this effect--

"The king's daughter with her maidens went out to pick berries, then
came a huge ape, and they fled with fright. The monster seized the
maiden, the pride of her father's heart, and bore her off to a cruel
death. Already he had reache