But no more trace of the lost Frank could be found.
A whole fortnight went past, and he was mourned for as one dead, and even Carrambo gave up hopes.
Frank, he told them, must have been throttled by the gorillas and hung up in a tree.
But lo! and behold, one forenoon who should appear again in propria persona, but the laughing little Cockney boy himself.
By the hand he led a little long-armed hairy gorilla, that clung to him in terror when Viking began to growl.
Jeannie, as she was called, sprang trembling into Frank's arms, but he gently soothed her, and after having a cup of coffee he told his marvellous story.[2] It was briefly as follows:--
[1] This is no sailor's yarn, but founded on fact.
He had been captured by the awful gorillas, having been first stunned by a blow from a club. Then carried deep into the forest and up into a very high tree. There he found a shelter, quite a hut in fact, and far from being unkind to him, the gorillas fed and tended him every day, only guarding him at night.
"And this is my little pupil," he added. "Jeannie was given me to educate, I suppose; but early this morning the gorillas went off to do battle with some neighbouring tribe, and Jeannie and I slipped down the tree and ran for it.
"So here I am!"