However, this discovery nerved me to press forward with my exploration.  All fear and dread had left me, and I went at the task coolly enough, and with a clear purpose.  There remained aft two places unvisited—­the lazaret and the port stateroom, which I had not previously entered, because of a locked door.  I determined on breaking in here first, suspecting its use as a storeroom.  There was no key in the lock, and the stout door resisted my efforts.  Placing the lantern on the deck I succeeded finally in inserting the blade of the hatchet so as to gain a purchase sufficient to release the latch.  As the door yielded, the hinges creaking dismally, a sharp cry, human in its agony, assailed me from within.  It came forth so suddenly, and with so wild an accent, I stepped blindly backward in fright, my foot overturning the lantern, which, with a single flicker of candle went out.  In that last gleam I saw a form—­either of man, or boy—­a dim, grotesque outline, fronting me.  Then, in the darkness gleamed two green, menacing eyes, growing steadily larger, nearer, as I stared at them in horror.  I could not move; I seemed paralyzed; I doubt if I even breathed in that first moment of overwhelming terror.  Another cry, like that of a mad person, struck my ears, and I knew the thing was coming toward me.  There was no other sound, no footstep on the deck; I merely felt the approach, realizing the increasing glare of those horrible eyes.  They seemed to fascinate, to hold me immovable, the blood chilled in my veins.  Was it man or beast?  Devil from hell, or some crazed human against whom I must battle for life?  The green eyes glared into my face; I could even feel the hot breath of the monster.  I lifted my hand toward him, and touched—­hair!

Even as the creature’s grip caught me, ripping through jacket sleeve to the flesh, I knew what my antagonist was—­a giant African ape.  Horrible as the reality was, I was no longer paralyzed with fear, helpless before the unknown.  This was something real, something to grasp, and struggle against, a beast with which to pit strength and skill.  The sting of the claws maddened me, brought me instantly to life, and I drove my hatchet straight between those two gleaming eyes.  I know not how it struck, but the brute staggered back dragging me with him in the clutch of his claws.  His human-like cry of pain ended in a brutal snarl, but, brief as the respite proved, it gave me grip on his under jaw, and an opportunity to drive my weapon twice more against the hairy face.  The pain served only to madden the beast, and, before I could wrench free, he had me clutched in an iron grip, my jacket torn into shreds.  His jaws snapped at my face, but I had such purchase as to prevent their touching me, and mindless of the claws tearing at my flesh, I forced the animal’s head back until the neck cracked, and the lips gave vent to a wild scream of agony.  I dared not let go; dared not relax for an instant the exercise of