Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-14

seemed to be one of the leaders, suddenly
hoped nearer to me two feet or 60 His ac-
tion was Immediately initiated by all the
monkeys forming the front row of the semi
circle, while those behind closed up as be-
fore, and the semi-circle contracted around
me by two feet in the radius. More chat
tering and gesticulating followed, more
growing and grinning, with intervals OF
silence They had great deal to say, and
they all said it, and It was all about me.
too, for they frequently pointed at me with
their hands and snarled and gnashed their
teeth at me.
PREPARING FOR ATTACK.
Again they contracted the semicircle. as
before; and so they kept gradually coming
nearer and nearer and growing more and
more excited. Still / remained quiet and
silent and still in the distance the monkey
ing pendulum, needless OF what engaged the
attention of their seniors. All else was si-
leDt-no sign of man.
The semicircle had gradually contracted
to within IA or Is feet of where stood; the
monkeys indeed were so near that in two or
three leaps they could easily have jumped
upon me. felt decidedly uneasy; wondered
how they would attack me and when. From
the right, or the left, or the front. By jump
ing on me from distance, or waiting till
quite near? Then wondered whether the
caretaker would return in time to stave off
the assault. for I was still quite close
to the house. Of the dreadful re-
suits of the attack, if once made, I had not
the slightest doubt. Still I remained lean.
ing immovable against the tree, calm and
cool, facing them straight, looking fully
into their faces, all in turn, and showing
outwardly no signs of finching or alarm.
Yet l began to think that it was now only
matter Of few more minutes. Before
quarter of an hour at the furthest they
would be within touching distance of me.
They would be sure to begin to handle my
clothes; and whether I permitted it or re-
sisted or tried to fly. would with equal
certainty be attacked and killed.
But my deliverance was at hand. In the
midst of one of the most noisy discussions
or did it not seem more noisy because they
were now so near?-they one and all became
suddenly silent and perfectly still. They
seemed to be listening attentively. lis
tened, too, but at first could catch no sound
anywhere; the stiffness of death was all
around, for even the young monkeys had
ceased their tricks.
STAMPEDE TO THE WOODS.
What could have disturbed and silenced
lhO AOiSy tuIOuR. NtAb lIOm dldE Ou chIuG
the loud cry of monkey-evidently the
warning call of scout on outpost duty.
Then, first family from sfar, and then
gradually nearer and louder, came, down
the main road through the woods, the well
come sound of the clatter of horses hoofs
at swift walking pace. This it was which
their quicker ears had detected long before
had heard it. They kept their ground for
a few moments more, but their attention was
now evidently divided between me and the
approaching horse. Again, and nearer, the
scouts cry sounded through the wood.
There was an immediate stampede. One and
all the monkeys rushed off to the neighbor-
ing trees, and, scrambling up the trunks
and into the branches, they were in twink
ling of an eye lost to sight in the leafy
canopy overhead. They had disappeared in
their hundreds as rapidly as they had come,
save when the rustling among the leaves in
dicated their course as they passed from tree
to tree and fled further into the woods.
I waited still against the tree till the
horse and his rider-a mounted policeman
going his rounds-had come quite near, then
made for the house and bolted myself in,
thankful for the timely arrival and in
voluntary aid of the unconscious patrol.
Unknowingly, but providentially, he saved
my life.-ChdnberS' Journal.