"It's simply the realization of defeat," he replied evasively.
"I don't believe it, Gran'pa. You're the last man on earth to realize such a thing--still less to admit it."
He said that he was pleased to hear me say so.
"Well--it's like this, George. . . . I'm worried over Sally. She is going back. . . ."
"_What!_" I exclaimed. "Returning to England?"
"No! No! I mean . . . receding. All the good she's got out of the life over here is rapidly being undone. After all, she's an old woman, George--and I have the feeling that--we must be quick. At her age, strange things happen. Something slips--and suddenly the wheels slow down. You must have noticed the difference in her during the last two or three weeks."
I had to admit that she certainly seemed very depressed and listless of late. At the same time, I thought that it was nothing to be alarmed about.
"I'm not alarmed!" said Gran'pa. "I'm merely taking precautions. It may be selfish of me to consider her before the rest of these old people--but it is natural, George!"
"Quite so! Then why not take her to Windhuk and let us follow later with as many gorillas as we can get by then?"
"You and Sally could 'plane it, accompanied by the necessary lady gorilla."
"No! It is too late in the day to start doing things by instalments, like that. We must all go together. If you've any respect for my feelings, George, give in like a good fellow."
"Very well!" I sighed. "It's your expedition--not mine. And perhaps you're right. . . ."
"You might admit it less grudgingly. . . . I don't want to seem a killjoy. . . ."
"Killjoy!" I exclaimed. "You don't think that I'm fooling with these gorillas for the joy of the thing. The novelty wore off months ago. It's simply a matter of patience, followed by hard work if you're lucky, and a fit of depression if you aren't. What glamour is there in sitting in a cage, muffled up in a monkey skin, with your hand on the gas tap--waiting for some fool gorilla to stray by? It's as bad as being a spider. If only we could go in for a little genuine hunting . . . a few hippo, or elephants. . . . But no! We should scare away these precious apes. Pampered brutes!"
"Naturally I am when you suggest that I want to finish this job because I like it."