The excitement of the chase, and the incidents attending it--the hope still remaining that some chance would arise in their favour--the certainty, soon ascertained, that they could keep up with the ape, which, despite its agility in the trees, cannot outstrip a man pursuing it along the ground,--all these circumstances had hitherto withheld him from giving way to utter despair.
But the time had come when even these slight supports were to fail.
It was when they arrived upon the brink of a lagoon, and a water-surface gleamed before their eyes; reflected by a daylight that struggled dimly down through the tops of the tall trees.
The trees rose out of the water, their trunks wide apart, but their branches intermingling.
The path of our pursuers was interrupted--they saw it at once--but that of the pursued seemed continuous as before.
They were arrested suddenly on the brink of the lagoon, apparently with no chance of proceeding farther.

They saw the red gorilla still climbing among the trees, with the white drapery streaming behind it.
Soon they saw it not--only heard the crackle of twigs, and the swishing recoil of the branches, as its huge body swung from tree to tree.
The monster was now out of sight, along with its victim--a victim, in very truth, whether living or dead! But for the support of Murtagh and Saloo, Captain Redwood would have fallen to the earth.

In their arms he sobbed and gasped,-- "Helen! my child, Helen! What will become of her?
O Father! O God, protect her!".