Feeling the pain,
it unwound its arm from about Mavovo, knocking Stephen over with the
backward sweep. Then it raised its great hand to crush Mavovo with a
blow, as I believe gorillas are wont to do.
This was the chance for which I was waiting. Up till that moment I had
not dared to fire, fearing lest I should kill one of my companions.
Now for an instant it was clear of them all, and steadying myself, I
aimed at the huge head and let drive. The smoke thinned, and through
it I saw the gigantic ape standing quite still, like a creature lost
in meditation.
Then it threw up its sound arm, turned its fierce eyes to the sky, and
uttering one pitiful and hideous howl, sank down dead. The bullet had
entered just behind the ear and buried itself in the brain.
The great silence of the forest flowed in over us, as it were; for
quite a while no one did or said anything. Then from somewhere down
amidst the mosses I heard a thin voice, the sound of which reminded me
of air being squeezed out of an indiarubber cushion.
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