human
It seems to me, said Jack, breaking silence at the end of a long pause which had succeeded an animated discussion as to whether it were better to spend one's life in the civilised world or among the wilds of Africa, in which discussion Peterkin, who advocated the wild life, was utterly, though not admittedly, beaten--
gpt
Thirty-six, if you count the babies in arms,
human
Of course we are entitled to count these.
gpt
I think you are both out in your reckoning, said I, drawing out my note-book;
human
What! cried Peterkin,
gpt
That may be so, I rejoined;
human
Pity we didn't make up the forty,
gpt
Ah! yes indeed, said Peterkin.
human
But let me see: could we not manage to make it up to that yet?
gpt
Impossible, said I.
human
We are far away from the gorilla land now, I know; for, in addition to the fact that we have seen no traces of gorillas for a long time, we have, within the last few days, seen several lions, which, you are well aware, do not exist in the gorilla country.
gpt
True; but you mistake me, rejoined Peterkin.
human
I do not mean to make up the number to forty by killing three more, but by proving, almost to demonstration, that we have already been the death of that number, in addition to those noted down.
gpt
You'll find that rather difficult,
human
Not at all, cried Peterkin.
gpt
Let me think a minute. You remember that enormously big, hairy fellow, that looked so like an ugly old man that Ralph refused point-blank to fire at him, whereupon you fired at him point-blank and wounded him in the shoulder as he was running away?
human
We treated several big fellows in that way, replied Jack;
gpt
No, no; you know well enough which one I mean. The one that ran along the edge of the stagnant pool into which you tumbled as we were coming back.
human
Oh yes! I remember,
gpt
Well, that fellow flew into such a horrible rage when he was wounded, continued Peterkin,
human
Oh, do be quiet, Peterkin, please, said I, with a shudder.
gpt
You put things in such a fearfully dark and murderous light that I feel quite as if I were a murderer. I feel quite uneasy, I assure you; and if it were not that we have killed all these creatures in the cause of science, I should be perfectly miserable.
human
In the cause of science! repeated Peterkin;
gpt
Come, come, said Jack;
human
There you exhibit your unnatural ignorance of your own natural habits, retorted Peterkin;
gpt
Well, I will knock you down if you prefer it.
human
Thank you; I'd rather not. Besides, you have almost knocked me up already; so pray call a halt and let me rest a bit.