I would never have believed that so ancient an animal of its
stature, which could not have been more than seven feet when it stood
erect, could have been so heavy. For ancient undoubtedly it was. The
long, yellow, canine tusks were worn half-away with use; the eyes were
sunken far into the skull; the hair of the head, which I am told is
generally red or brown, was quite white, and even the bare breast,
which should be black, was grey in hue. Of course, it was impossible
to say, but one might easily have imagined that this creature was two
hundred years or more old, as the Motombo had declared it to be.
Stephen suggested that it should be skinned, and although I saw little
prospect of our being able to carry away the hide, I assented and
helped in the operation on the mere chance of saving so great a
curiosity. Also, although Brother John was restless and murmured
something about wasting time, I thought it necessary that we should
have a rest after our fearful anxieties and still more fearful
encounter with this consecrated monster.
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