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.
"Very good shot, Baas," it piped up, "as good as that which killed the king-vulture at Dingaan's kraal, and more difficult.

But if the Baas could pull the god off me I should say--Thank you." The "thank you" was almost inaudible, and no wonder, for poor Hans had fainted.