x886.] especially as gorillas are not found in South America, and I won't be angry if you say you don't believe it; but I tell you it is true. Where this gorillla came from I don't know. " Well, these contests were held annually, and the first for the hand of Nakomis occurred just before Dale and his party went up the Little Biobio to the capital of the Northland, but the victor did not fight the gorilla until after they left. The ulman, or under chief, who had won the preliminary contests, was a favorite with the toquis, but Nakomis was indifferent. Now the sight of Dale's party, the only white men she had ever seen, aroused in her all the latent love of her mother's race, and the night before the gorilla combat she stole out and put a few wild karacco seeds in the gorilla's food. " In the morning when that brave ulman entered the gorilla's den the beast was in agony. The night before stout, padded, leather mittens had been bound to his hands and feet, but the instant he caught sight of the man the enraged brute, whose body seemed on fire, with a terrible yell sprang upon his prey, and in an instant crushed out the ulman's life in his powerful arms. " Dale heard all these awful details through Jumpo, and then what did the fool do but commence to train for those contests. Of course no one but Arancanians could enter, so he commenced to learn the dialect at once, with Jumpo for instructor. " It would interest you much to hear how he ran around that South Chilean country with Jumpo that year, even crossing over by some of the highest passes of the Andes into Patagonia, but that would be a long story in itself. " When the next annual contest for the hand of the princess came around, Dale was in first-class shape. He was a powerfully built man—must have had a peck of medals, all together. This adventure was just spicy enough for him. With his aquiline features and black hair, Jumpo's dyestuff and paint • transformed him into an excellent counterfeit Araucanian, and by keeping his mouth shut most of the time he entered the contest without any questions being asked. " The strife was terribly severe, for never was higher prize offered; but Dale won easily in everything which required mere strength. One event was throwing a large rock. This was a walk away for Jim, it was so much like putting the shot, though the rock was much heavier. The hardest thing he won was the swim ming race—nearly a mile up a swift current. He threw the lance Perkins' Assignment.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers