The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-07-28
soon as could seize 1t / fred He gave
N ho>yt ~ I'm 70 Iai droppad nxa rvthino |

soon as / could seize It fred. He gave
a howl of rage and dropped everything
but my coat. hastily jumped into my
recovered garments and gave chase. 1t
was useless. The thief scnrried up into
the top of tall cocoahut tree, and in a
twinkling of an eye put on my coat,
bhttoning 1t round him, and then pro-
ceeded to hurl cocoahuts at me with
such precision that was glad to quick
ly leap into the saddle and ride off.
But my troubles had just begun. !
had reconciled myself to the loss of my
coat, as Jackson's money was in an in
side pocket of my waist, but the mon.
key showed a disposition to follow me.
After firing at him several times gave
it up. His tough hide seemed bullet
proof, and there was no chance to kill
him unless shot him in the eye.
The declining sun warned me that it
was time to seek shelter for the night,
and l knew that IN these tropical soil.
tudcs there was no twilight. saw no
cultivated fields, no houses, 70 signs OF
the hacienda of Don Francisco Mendez.
The situation was growing serious.
Occasionally stone weighing pound
or two was hurled at me from some
leafy covert, and then the gigantic
monkey would give a horrible laugh
and scamper away. He was funny.
looking chap in my blue flannel coat,
but was too angry to enjoy the comic
aspect of the matter. 1t struck me that
if the brute caught me in the dark he
would make an end of me in no time.
1t was both horrible and humiliating,
such death in the tangled forests OF
this savage land.
Just then l saw short distance off,
in clearing, square stone hut.
Here was shelter and protection.
was not disappointed much to find it
uninhabited. 1t was strongly built.
with no windows, and one entrance,
from which the door had long since
rotted away. A stepladder led to the
loft. Ascending, found small apart.
ment dimly lighted by round holes in
the wall, which had evidently been used
by sharpshooters at some revolutionary
period in the history of the country.
My mind was made up in an instant. ]
went back to my mustang and picleted
him about one hundred and sixty yards
from the hut in the bushes. Then re.
closed in upon me, and sought refuge in
the loft, pulling up the ladder after me
l was safe here, even from the mon.
keys, and lay down feeling sense OF
perfect security.
1t must have been late in the night
when l heard something moving in the
room under me. Looking through the
opening in the floor could see moth.
ing. l struck match, and by the flick.
ering flame recognized the monkey.
The wretch still wore my coat, and in
the dim, uncertain light his appearance
was more repulsive than ever.
l lay down again knowing that the
beast could not get into the loft, anc
commenced planning for his destruc.
ton in the morning. l was satisfied
that the animal belonged to Il species
of mountain apes, of great strength
and terrible ferocity. Their cunning,
heard, was almost human, and they die
not scruple to attack men and reno
them limb from limb. l concluded
when the morning light appeared, te
draw the brute's attention and shoot
him in one of his eyes. Having set
tied on this plan, l was about drop
ping into a doze, when I heard voices
outside the hut. l listened with alert
ears.
IF, as you say, Pedro, this American
is inside, we should ambush him ant
shoot him when he comes out in the
morning.
Nov, by all the saints, JUAN wa.
the reply of Pedro you are coward
ly fool. The Englishman, like all hi;
countrymen. has his eyes open, anl
may get the drop on u.s.
l recognized the voices. Pedro anc
Juan had followed me all the way from
Jackson's camp. What to do was the
question. 1t was hard to decide, and
waited further Developments The two
robbers convcrsed in low Whispers anC
all could hear was their fllal agree
ment to rush in and overpow,,r me.
wonder what they'll do with TIN
monkey" l said to myself with
chuckle.
Il hear the American moving" sale
Pedro.
1t was the monkey. The monster
was walking in the circle all the time.
and the dead leaves that had driftec
into the hut rustled under his feet
There was another whispered consulta
ton, and the Mexicans rushed into the
room below. The outlaws saw dark
form and charged with their long, muir.
derous knives.
l heard two dull thuds, and knew
that Pedro and Juan had been dashed
headlong against the walls.
Mother of Mosesr' gasped Juan.
"Knife him.
Idiot" cried Pedro; knife him
yourself!''
The robbers made another rush.
''Ah! ah.'' yelled Pedro. where are
you, Juan? This hog of an American
has me by the throat, and have lost
my knife
He is a demon!" groaaed Juan. ''He
is pounding my head against the WALL!
A volley Of yells followed and then
chorus of groans Through it all
heard an ominous dull thud. At length
silence prevailed, and l knew that ali
was over.
My last match was gone, but to my
great delight it was almost morning.
With the first rays of daylight I peere6
through the hole in the floor. 1t was
CHASTITY sight that met my gaze. The
two MeXicans lay on the floor quite
dead. Their heads had been smashed tc
jelly against the walls and their throats
bore dark blue marks.
Sitting in the corner was the monkey.
He. was bleeding profusely and was
evidently seriously hurt. At first
thought would spare him. He saved
my life and l was grateful. But when
I fixed the ladder and descended the
untamable beast prepared for spring.
and there was such evident malice in
his eyes that 1 aimed at his eye an6
fired. One shot did the work. He rolled
over dead.
1t was no place for me after such an
adventure, and l at once went in search
of my mustang. To my great joy he
was all right, and I was soon in the