kissed her to chase away the effects of the terrible fright
she had sustained.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

IN FEAR AND TREMBLING.

The kiss which Henry gave his little sister was not one of
congratulation. He was not yet sure of her safety, or of his own. The
hairy monster was still in sight--not more than a hundred yards off--and
though apparently busy with his banquet on the tender shoots of the
water-plants, might at any moment discontinue it, and spring upon them.

What was the best thing to be done in order to escape him? Run off into
the forest, and try to find their father and Saloo? They might go the
wrong way, and by so doing make things worse. The great ape itself
would soon be returning among the trees, and might meet them in the
teeth; there would then be no chance of avoiding an encounter.

To go after Murtagh would be an equally doubtful proceeding; they were
ignorant of the direction the ship-carpenter had taken.

Young as they were, a moment's reflection admonished them not to stir
from the spot.

But what, then? Cry out, so that the absent ones might hear them? No;
for this might also attract the attention of the ourang-outang, and
bring it upon them. Besides, Helen had shrieked loudly on the first
alarm. If any of the hunters had been within hearing, they would have
needed no further signal to tell them that some danger threatened her.
If not within hearing, it would be worse than idle for either of them to
cry out again. They determined, therefore, to remain silent, and keep
to their position, in the hope that either their father, the Malay, or
Murtagh, might come to their speedy relief.

But they were prudent enough not to expose themselves to any wandering
glance of the red gorilla's. The moment Henry had joined his sister he
had hurried her behind the trunk of the tree, and they were now on the
side facing toward the forest. There, by looking through the leaves of
some orchideous creepers that wreathed the great stem, they could see
the dreaded creature without being seen by it. Hand in hand, still
trembling, they stood silently and cautiously regarding the gorilla and
its movements.

Under other and safer circumstances it would have been a curious and
interesting spectacle: this gigantic, human-like ape, stretching forth
its hairy arms, each full four feet in length--gathering in the heads of
the tall water-plants, and munching them in great mouthfuls, then
letting the stalks