The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-10-22


times they chartered at me indig-
nantly and shook their fists almost in
my face At a wave OF my hand.
however they fed in precipitato
terror.
As soon as entered the lake tie
monkeys 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
a ferocious looking monster. fully
five feet high and as muscular as u
bear. Before realized tho situation
this great long legged fellow swooped
down on my clothes and started with
them for the woods. For a 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
monkey had left my revolver and as
soon US l could seize 1t fired. 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 scurried up into the top OF q tall
cocoanut 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 pre-
cision that ! was glad to quickly leap
into the saddle and ride OFT.
But my troubles had just begun.
ha1 30 h< Nf
my coat as Jackson's money was in
an inside pocket Of my waist but the
monkey showed disposition to fol-
low 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
1t was time to seek shelter for, the
night and knew that In these tropi-
cal solitudes there was no twilight
/ saw no cultivated fields. no houses
no signs OF the hacienda of Don Fran
cisco Mendez.
The situation was growing serious.
Occasionally 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 q funny
looking chap in my blue flannel coat
but was too angry to enjoy the comic
aspect OF tho matter 1t struck me
that il 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 a short distance of
in clearing q square stone hut.
Here was shelter and protection. l
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 stepIadder led to the
loft Ascending found small apart
ment dimly lighted by round holes in
tho wall which had evidently been
used by sharpshooters at some revo.
lutionary period in the history OF the
country. My mind was made up in
an instant went back to my mus
tang and picketed him about one
hundred and sixty yards from the hut
in the bushes Then l returned to
my fortress just as darkness closed in
upon me. aud sought refuge in the
loft pulling up the ladder after me.
was safe here. even from the mon.
keys and lay down feeling a sense
OF perfect security.
1t must have been late in the night
when heard something moving III
the room underneath me- Looking
through the opening in the floor 1
could see nothing. l struck a match,
and by the flickoring flame recognized
the monkey. The wretch still wore
my coat and in the dim. uncertain
light his appearance was more repul-
sive than ever.
lay down again knowing that the
beast could not get into the loft and
commenced planning for his destruc.
ton in the morning l was satisfied
that the animal belonged to n species
OF mountain 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 con-
cluded. when the morning light APP
peared. to draw tho brute's attention
and shoot him in one OF his eyes
Having settled on this plan. l was
about dropping into doze when l
heard voices outside the hut l lis
tened with alert ears.
If. as you say. Pedro this Amer
icon is inside we should ambush him
and shoot him when he comes out in
the morning"
Now by all the saints, Juan"
was the reply OF Pedro. you are a
cowardly fool The Englishman, like
all his countrymen, has his eyes open,
and may get the drop on us"
wonder what they'll do with the
monkey" l said to myself with a
chuckle-
Il 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 rustled under his feet.
There was another whispered consul
tation. and the Mexicans rushed into
the room below. The outlaws saw a
dark form and charged 1t with their