.

How anxiously I awaited the return of Grace and Ursula! Every now and
then I looked up, hoping to see them, but of course I had to watch
Oliver, in the hope that he might begin to revive. I could not help
occasionally, too, glancing seaward in search of Walter's boat. I
thought I saw a slight movement in Oliver's eyes. I was gazing down
upon his face when I heard a strange noise coming from the forest. I
looked up, but could see nothing. I thought I must have been mistaken.
Again the sounds reached my ears, and then, turning my eyes in the
direction whence they came, I saw, appearing among the boughs of a tall
tree, a hideous countenance. I had not forgotten the appearance of the
monster we had seen at the lake. A second look convinced me that it was
the face of a huge orang-outan. I trembled lest he should discover
Oliver and me. He was at some distance, however, and evidently employed
in eating fruit, as I saw a shower of husks and leaves falling down
beneath him to the ground. Still I could not help dreading that his
eyes were fixed on us. If he were alone, I hoped that there was less
danger; but if accompanied by his wife and young ones, I knew that there
was great risk, should he see us, of his attacking us, lest we might
hurt them. Though anxious to watch Oliver, I could scarcely withdraw my
eyes from the hideous monster, who, as he moved along the bough, now
appeared full in sight. The sounds made me dread, too, that he was not
alone; and presently I saw on another bough a smaller creature, and
then, what I dreaded much, another large one among the boughs on the
same tree. Still, as long as they remained on the boughs, I knew I had
less reason to dread danger.

How long Ursula and Grace seemed in coming! I fancied they would have
been with me in a much shorter time. At last I caught sight of Grace
running along the shore round a point of rock, and when she saw me she
signed that Ursula was following. A new alarm now seized me lest the
orang-outan should see her as she passed by, and descend the tree in
chase. I thought of Oliver's gun, which lay near; but though I knew how
to fire, I had never taken aim at an object, and I had little hope of
shooting the mias. I was afraid, too, of crying out, lest that might
also attract him; indeed, had I done so, Grace would probably not have
known what to do, and was very likely to be pursued. I watched the tree
with greater anxiety even than before,