human
This hypnotism, I said to Gran'pa, presently,
gpt
Nonsense! he replied.
human
The conditions out there will be quite the reverse of here.
gpt
That's just what I've been saying!
human
I'm afraid you miss my point, George. What I mean is that _we_ shall be in the cage and the gorillas outside. We shall simply adopt the procedure followed by 'What's-his-name?'--that explorer--when he was studying the chimpanzee and gorilla in their native haunts. _He_ lived in the cage, and the apes wandered around it. Surely that's simple enough!
gpt
Everything is--the moment _you_ tackle it!
human
Now don't be sarcastic, George! If you wish to withdraw just because of this little setback. . . .
gpt
I made no such suggestion. I'm keener than ever. But it's just as well to anticipate the difficulties we're bound to encounter.
human
That's what I've been doing all along. Why do you think I've taken so much trouble over these initial experiments? Wasn't it with the idea of perfecting our method of attack before we actually get there?
gpt
I think you'll agree, however, I said,
human
Granted! I've given much thought to the question.
gpt
Any result?
human
Y-e-s! I think I've pretty well solved it at last. Roughly, my plan is to wait in the cage with Stringer, call the gorilla to us, hold him for a moment or two with the magnetic gaze, and then let him have a whiff or two of gas!
gpt
Do you mean poison gas?
human
Not exactly! We shall stupefy him and make him unconscious, if possible, but the stuff mustn't go beyond that. It won't have to leave any injurious effects behind. I've already ascertained that such a thing is possible.
gpt
Your ingenuity is . . . limitless!
human
It's necessary . . .
gpt
I should think it is! Upon my word, Gran'pa!
human
I'm sorry all this trouble should have occurred, Mr. Boswell, said Gran'pa.
gpt
Particularly the episode with the knife. . . . If there is any monetary compensation I can make, I hope you won't fail to . . .
human
Well, interrupted the other.
gpt
I think you've knocked a good bit off his value. He's never been exactly gentle in his ways, but he's a thousand times worse now than ever he was. He paused and then said, expressively:
human
I've just had another look at him. . . .
gpt
Oh, he'll quieten down again in a day or two.
human
A brute like that never forgets--and never forgives. He'll brood on it. I shall have to strengthen that cage. Already he's bent a couple of the bars. . . .
gpt
But surely he's shown signs of a temper before this!
human
Yes! But not _spitefully_. Once a brute like that gets spiteful it's the very devil to pay. He'll start flinging earth about, screaming at people--doing anything he can to annoy or destroy.
gpt
I can hardly believe that this affair will change his whole nature, he said.
human
At any rate, I sincerely hope not. I can only express my deepest regret, Mr. Boswell; and, as I said before, if there is anything I can do in the way of . . .
gpt
It's knocked at least a good fifty pounds off his value . . .
human
That's a rather high figure.
gpt
Well, we'll say forty. . . .