The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-08-20

had my doubts; but the prospect Of
staying all night with Mendez somewhat
reassured me, and | started off in very good
spirits. My road took me through a scene
of bewildering beauty. The tropical foli-
age round me glittered with all the hues
of the rainbow Unknown flowers of gor-
geous magnifcence and overpowering fra
GRANGE frightened the roadside.
Suddenly came upon a pond of clear
water in an open space. Hot, dusty and
travel-worn, | could not resist the tempta-
ton. Without counting the consequences
| fastened the mustang to a sapliDg and
undressed in hurry, placing my revolver
under my clothes on the edge of the water.
Then plunged in and enjoyed refresh
ing swim.
One thing annoyed me. All along the
way met monkeys everywhere. They
were of all sizes, and the interest they took
in my movements amused me not little.
Sometimes they chattered at me indignant
ly and shook their fists almost in my face.
At wave of my hand, however, they fed
in precipitate terror.
As soon as | entered the lake the monk
eys took fresh courage. They scrambled
about in droves and abused me to their
hearts content. Among them was one of
a species that | had not seen before. He
was ferocidus looking monster, fully five
feet high and as muscular as a bear Be-
fore | realized the situation this great long
legged fellow swooped down on my clothes,
and started with them for the woods. For
moment | was absolutely paralyzed. 1t
was no Joke to ride to Aspinwall in de-
cent rig, but [ had no fancy for the role of
Lady Godiva.
There was no time to lose. The mon
key had left my revolver, and as soon as |
could seze it fired. He gave howl and
dropped everything but my coat | hastily
jumped into my recovered garments and
gave chase 1t was useless The thief
scurried up into the top Of tall cocoanqt
tree, and in twinkling of an eye put on
my coat, buttoning it round him, and then
proceeded to hurl cocoanuts at me with
such precision that | was glad to quickly
leap into the saddle.
But my troubles had just begun. | had
reconciled myself to the loss fmy coat, as
Jackson's money was in an inside pocket
of my waist, but the monkey showed dis
position 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 solitudes
there was no twilight. | saw no cultivated
fields, no houses, no signs of the hacienda
tnf Don Francisco Mendez.
The situation was growing serious. Qc-
casionally a stone weighing pound or two
was hurled at me from some leafy covert,
and then the gigantic monkey would give
horrible laugh and scamper away. He
was funny looking chap in my blue fan
pel coat, blt was to angry to enjoy the
comic aspect of the matter It 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 | saw short distance off, In
clearing, square stone hut. | was not
disappointed much to find it uninhabited
1t was strongly built, with no windows,
and one sRtrance, from which the door had
long since rotted away. A stepladdeF led
to the loft, Ascending, | fo4nd small
apartment 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 picketed him about
one hundred and sixty yards from the hut
in the bushes. Then I returned to my for
tress just as darkness closed in upon ne
and sought refuge in the loft, pulling up
ladder after me. was safe here, even the
from the monkeys, and | lay down feeling
a sense of perfect security.
y Unjust have been late in the night when
| heard something moving in the room un-
der me. Looking through the opening in
the floor could see nothing. struck a
match, and by the Pickering light | recog-
nized the monkey. The wretch still wore
my coat, and in the dim, uncertain light
his appearance was more repulsive than
eyer.
/ lay down again knoYkiRg that the beast
could not get into the loft, and commepoed
planning for his destruction in the morn
ing. l was satisfied that the animal be-
longed to species Of mountala apes, of
great strength and terrible ferocity. Their
cunning, heard, was almost human, and
they did not scruple to attack men and
rend them limb from limb l concluded,
when the morning light appeared, to draw
the brute's attention and shoot him in one
of his eyes. Having settled on this plan,
1 was about dropping in dose, when
heard voices outside the hut. I listened |
with alert ears
If, as you say, Pedro, this American is
inside, we should ambush him and shoot