The Placer herald., 1867-04-06
noise was indesclibable.

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and old and Young were too much excited to
think Of anything beyond the sport for
which the crocodile waited with a compa-
cency that was delightful to behold.
At last they reached that state Of high
spirits when they were ready to bother their
enemy just as you have seen party of wine
inspired youngsters worry policeman. One
ot the most agile or most imprudent among
the troop descended the tree until be
could suspend himself by the tail from a
branch near enough to the water to enable
him to swing back and forth within easy
distance of the crocodile, who smiled more
ferociously than ever.
The monkey, with that agility which even
rope dancer cannot in the slightest degree
approach, swung out, darted his claw to
ward the reptile as if with the intention OF
giving him scientific one, two, on the
nose; was out of reach before the ponder
Gus Jaws of the reptile could snap together,
and then turned summersault to express
bis delight, while his companions shrieked
and jumped by way Of encouraging the per.
tormance.
Verv soon nearly the whole troop became
SO insane with the fun that they found it
l necessary to be something more than idle
spectators.
They slid down the tree, but, not finding
any other branch convenient, they formed a
chain by catching hold of each others G. avs
and winding their caudal extremities about
each others legs until the lowest OF the
band could reach the original performer OF
the feat. lie grasped the ankle of his neigh
Dor in his hand, and then they all swung
bnck and forth with the rapidity of light
ming and yeIiug like troop Of aldermen
after dinner. at every effort the animal
made to catch stray leg or arm between
his teeth.
The odd sport vent on for full hour, the
monkeys growing more and more excited,
and the crocodile never once losing his pa
,ience, probably we'll aware from experience
tba, in the end be should be repaid for hav'
ing SO kindly lent himself to their amuse-
nent
At last an uulucky monkey slid down the
trunk of the tree, passing unceremoniously
over the heads aud backs of bis companions,
evidently with tie intention of taking the
place of the one who occupied the post Of
danger near the water.
lue WuUIo ClOWu yO'Cu o"u No"'e'eN
louder than ever, and the crocodi!es mouth
opened wider, but be gave no other evidence
of eagerness.
The monkey had nearly reached the bot
tom of the line when he made mis- step,
lost bis hold, and fell into the river. There
was one cry of agony that was fairly human
in its intensity, and the unhappy wight was
dragged under the water. The crocodile
had disappeared.
The chain was Immediately broken, the
monkeys flew up the tree in terrible haste,
their merrment changed TO doleful cries,
and there they sat wringing their hands and
bewailing the fate of their companion.
We waited for an instant, and then Fung
rowed out into the river. We discharged
our guns. but without effect. lie dove un-
der the water again, and the monkeys, filled
with new terror at the report of our rifles,
fled precipitately into the woods, their
sbreks of anguish and fear reaching us lorg
after the whole troop bad disappeared.
A few days later, we witnessed not tar
from the same place, performance even
more unaccouptabe-a case of deliberate
suicide by one Of the monkey race.
We had landed our boat and we're sitting
on !hv bank discussing the luncheon we had
brought with US, when we saw monkey
come rushing out Of the wood, followed by
a troop Of bis companions.
He ran up tree close to the water, and
The others crowded about him, yelling as if
in derision, dealing him heavy blows and
hneing branches on his head, be making no
resistance, and only giving..vent to an occa'
sional moan of distress.
lie was either the parah Of the tribe or
else be had been guilty of some crime
against the laws of their republic, which
called for such harsh treatment on the part
Of his judges.
Suddenly be suspended himself by one
hand from the branch, and uttered an ap'
pealng scream, apparently trying to soften
the hearts Of his prosecutors.
The only response be received was cry
so full of scorn and mockery that no hearer
could have pretended to mistake its meaning
or could have denied its painful human
sound. ....,
The unfortunate-we will call him SO at
venture, since we are free to confess that
our sympathies always 60 with the cu'prt'
whether human or monkey-waited for sew
eral moments suspened by one hand to the
branch, and throwing appealing glances to
the group, who only increased their cries
and condemnation. .-
At length, with single groan, fuller Of
agony than any sound | ever heard in my
life he deliberately loosed bis bold Of the
bougb, and sank in the water. :.
The current, muddy and rather swift,
closed over the last despairipg wall. The
troop of monkeys remained perfectly silent
The poor creature rose to the surface-rose,
and without the slightest effort. sank for the
last time beneath the stream.
ARREsrED.-Judge Yarmouth, Of New Or.
leans, leading performer in the Philade''
phia Convention Of "Southern loyalists," has
been arrested at New Orleans for embezzle'
mani Il .u;ll ha racollacia ed that III is scQun: