The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-27

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ly leap into the saddle and ride off.
But my troubles had just begun. /
had reconciled myself to tho loss of INV
| coat, as Jackson's money wns in an in
side pocket of my waist, but the mon
key showed disposition to follow me.
After firing ut him several times 1 gave
1t 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
vas time to seek shelter for the night,
and knew that In these tropical soli-
tudcs there was no twilight l saw no
cultivated fields, no houses, 10 signs of
the hacienda of Don Francisco Mendez.
The situation wos growing serious.
Occasionally II stone weighing u pound
or two was hurled ut me from some
leafy covert, and then the gigantic
monkey would give horrible laugh
and scanper away. He was o funny
looking chap In my blue flannel coat,
but was too angry to enjoy the comic
aspect of the matter. ItstruclS me that
if the brute caught INC in the dark he
would make an end of me in 10 time.
1t was both horrible and humiliating,
such u death in the tangled forests Of
this savage land.
just then saw n short distance off,
IN n clearing, o square stone hut
Here was shelter and protection.
was not disappointed much to find it
uninhabited 1t was strongly built.
with no windows, and ono entrance.
from which the door had long since
rotted away. A stepladder led to the
loft Ascending, found n small apart
ment dimly lighted Ivy round holes in
the wall, which had evidently been used
by sharpshooters ut 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 re-
turned to my fortress just as darkness
closed In upon me, and sought refuge in
the loft, pulling up the ladder after me.
was safe here, even from the mon
keys, and lay down feeling q 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. Struck u match. and by the flick
cring flame recognized the monkey
The wretch still wore my coat, and in
the dim. uncertain light his appearance
WIS more repulsive than ever.
lay down again knowing that the
beast could not get into the loft, and
commenced planning for lis destruc-
ton in the morning. was satisfied
that the animal belonged to a species
of mountain apes, of great strength
and terrible ferocity- Their cunning, l
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 bruteS attention and shoot
him in one of his eyes Having set
tied ON this plan. l WIS about drop
ping into doze, when heard voices
outside the hut l listened with alert
ears.
IF, Us you say, Pedro, this American
Is inside, we shO1h ambush him and
shoot him when he comes out in the
morning.
the reply of Pedro, you are a coward
ly fool. The EnglishInan. like all his
countrymen, has his eyes open, and
may get the drop on us
Wonder what they'll do with the
monkey% I said to myself with a
chuckle.
II hear the American moving" said
Pedro.
1t was the monkey. The monster
was walking in the circle all the time,
and the dead leaves that had drifted
into the hut rushed under his feet.
There was another whispered consulta-
ton, and the Mcxicans rushed into the
room below. The outlaws saw a dark
form and charged with their long, MUIR
derous knives
heard two dull th,ds, and knew
that Pedro and Juan had been dashed
headlong against the walls.
Mother of Mosesl- gaspe,l Juan.
"knifc him.
The robbers made another rush.
"Ah! abr yelled Pedro Where are
you, Juan? This hog of an American
has me by the throat, and have lost
my knife"
.''IIe is q dernonl'' groa:sed Juan "He
is pounding my head against the WALL"
vOllcy Of yclls followed and then
chorus of groanS Through it all
heard an ominous dull thnd At length
silence prevailed, and i know that all
was over.
My last match was gone, but to my
great delight it wns almost morning.
With the first rays OF daylight peered
through the hole in the floor. 1t vas IL
CHASTITY sight that met my gaze. The
two MeXicans lay on the floor quite
dead Their heads had been smashed to
jelly against the walls and their throats
bore dark blue marks.
Sitting in the corner was the monkey.
He was Needing nrIfuSely and xna