Eastern times., 1855-11-01

parading up and down en- the hot sand. With
bound he was amongst them, but not quickly
enough to catch single one for the crabs,
though apparently 80 clumsy, darted like
lightning into quantity of small holes or cav
tiles, which made the ground here resemble a
seive, and the ape could not thrust in his paw
after them. for the orifces were too narrow.
The mandoor nudged Frank gently, to draw
his attention, and they saw the ape, after
crawling once or twice up and down the small
strip of land, and peering into the various
holes, with its nose close to the ground, sud-
denly seat himself very gravely by one of them
which he fancied most suitable. He then
brought round his long tail to the front, thrust
the end of it into the cavity, until he met with
an obstacle, and suddenly made face, which
so amused Frank, that he would have laughed
loudly, had not the mandoor raised his finger
warningly-and directly after the ape drew
out his extraordinary line with jerk. AT
the end of it, however, hung the desired booty,
a fat crab, by one of its claws, and swinging
it round on the ground with such violence as
to make it loose its hold, he took it in his left
paw, picked up stone in the other, and after
cracking the shell, devoured the savofy con-
tents with evident signs of satisfaction.
Four or five he thus caught in succession,
on each occasion when the crab nipped him,
making a face of heroic resignation and pain !;
but each time he was successful, and he must
have found in the dainty dish and the revenge
for the nip, abundant satisfaction for the pain
work again SO soon.
Thus then the ape, quite engaged with the
sport, and without taking his eyes off the
ground, had approached to within about twen-
ty PAGES of the party concealed behind the
pandanus tree. Here again, the ground was
full Of holes, and, looking out the one he con-
jectured to be the best, he threw in his line
once more, and probably felt that there was
something alive within, for he awaited the re-
suit with signs of most eager attention. The
affair, however, lasted longer than he had an
ticipated, but being already tolerably filled by
his past successful hauls, he pulled up his
knees, laid his long arms upon them, bowed
his head, and half closing his eyes, he as
sumed such resigned and yet exquisitely
comical face, as only an ape is capable of
putting on under these circumstances. But
his quiet was destined TO be disturbed in a
manner as unexpected as it was cruel he
must have discovered some very interesting
objects in the clouds, for he was staring up
there ixedly, when he suddenly uttered loud
veil, left hold of his knees, felt with both
hands for his tail, and made bound in the
air, as if the ground under him was begin
ming to grow red hot. At the end of his tail,
however, hung gigantic crab, torn with des-
perate energy from its hiding-place and
Frank could not restrain himself any longer,
but burst into loud laugh. The mandoor at
first retained his gravity; but when the ape,
alarmed by the strange sound, looked up in
spite of his pain and saw men, and then bound
ed at full speed, with his tormentor still dang
ling at the end of his tail, the old man could
no longer refrain either, and they both laughed
till the tears ran down their cheeks.
The ape, in the meanwhile, flew across the
narrow strip of sand, followed by all the 9TH
ers, towards the Jungle, and in moment af
ter, not single one was visible"