The strife now terminated, they stood trembling and uncertain as ever.
The crocodile, although crushed, and no longer dangerous for any offensive manoeuvre, was not killed.

Its body still writhed and wriggled upon the ground; though its movements were but the agonised efforts of mortal pain, excited convulsively and each moment becoming feebler.
And the red gorilla stood near, squatted on its haunches; at intervals tossing its long hairy arms around its head, and giving utterance to that strange coughing laughter, as if it would never leave off exulting over the victory it had achieved.

How long was this spectacle to last?
It was sufficiently horrid for the spectators to desire its speedy termination.
And yet they did not; they were in hopes it might continue till a voice coming from the forest, or the tread of a foot, would tell them that help was near.
Tremblingly but attentively they listened.

They heard neither one nor the other--neither voice nor footstep.

Now and then came the note of a bird or the cry of some four-footed creature prowling through the glades; but not uttered in accents of alarm.