The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-25

-
had rcconcilcd myself to tbs loss Of my
coat, Ms Jacksons money was Ia All in
side pocket Of my waist, but the mon
key showed disposition 10 follow me.
After firing az him several times gave
II up His tough hide seemed bullet
proof, and there was no chance 10 kill
him unless shot him in ihGeyc.
The declining sun warned me Tint II
was time 20 seek shelter for the night.
and ! knew that IN these tropical soli-
tuies there was no twilight saw no
cultivated fields, No houses. ro signs 81
the hacienda 81 Don Francisco Mendcz.
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 horrible laugh
and scampef away lie was \ funny
looking chap Ia my blue flannel coat
but was too angry to enjoy the comic
aspect Of tho matter. Itstruck me that
II the brute caught me in the dark he.
would make an end Of mo In no time.
II was both horrible and humiliating,
such death in the tangled forests 81
this savage land
just then I saw a short distance OF,
in clearing, a square stone hut.
Here was shelter and protection. I
was not disappointed much To find II
uninhabited II was strongly built,
with no windows, md one entrance,
from which the door Ind long since
rotted away A stepladdcr led TO the
loft Ascending, l found n small apart
mcnt ditnly lighted by round holes In
the wall, which had evidently been used
by sharpshooters nj some revolutionary
period In the history Of the country.
My mind was made up in aninstant. /
went back TO my mustang and picketcd
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 mp the ladder after me.
was safe here, even from the mon
keys. and lay down feeling sense o.
perfect security
II must have been late in the night
when heard something moving in the
room under me Looking through the
opening In the floor could see Meth
ing. struck match, and by the tiiclx-
ering flame recognized the monkey.
Tho wretch still wore my coat, and in
the dim, uncertain light his appearance
was more repulsive than ever.
| lay down again knowing that the
beast could not get into the loft, and
commenced planning for his dcstrnc-
ton in the morning. was satisfied
! that the animal belonged to q 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. concluded,
when the morning light appeared, TO
draw the brute's attention and shoot
him In one of his eyes. Having set
tied on this plan, was about drop
| ping into a doze, when heard voices
outside the hut listened with alert
ears.
IF, MS you say, Pedro, this American
is inside, we should ambush him and
shoot him when he comes out III the
morning.
.Now, by nll the saints, juan" was
the reply OF Pedro, you are a coward
liz fool, The Englishman. like all his
| countrymen, has his eyes open, and
may get the drop on u.s."
wonder what they'll do with the
monkeyT' said to myself with a
chucklo.
~ hear the American moving" said
/ Pedro.
/ II was the monkey. The monster
was walking in the circle all the time,
and the dead leaves that had driftcd
4 into the hut rnstled under his feet.
| There was another whispered consalta-
ton, and the Mexicans rushed into the
room below. The outlaws saw dark
/ form and charged with their long, MUIR
derous knives
heard two dull thuds, and knew
that Pedro and Juan had been dashed
headlong against the walls.
Mother Of Mosesm gasped Juan.
knife him!'
The robbers made another rush
4 "Ah! abr yelled Pedro. Where are
you, Juan? This hog Of an American
has me by the throat, and have lost
my knife"
.He Is dcmon!" groaaed Juan. lie
Is pounding my head against the walll'
4 A yolley III yells followed and then a
4 chorus Of groans. Through II MI
heard an oninous dull thud- At length
silence prevailed. and l knew that all
was over.
NV last match was gone, but TO my
great delight il was almost morning,
With the first rays of daylight pcercd
through the hole in the floor 1t was q
chastly sight that met my gaze. The
two Mcxicans lay on the floor quite
dead. Their heads had been smashed e
Jelly against the walls and their threats
bore dark blue marks.
i Sitting in the corner was the monkey
He was bleeding profusely and wa.
evidently seriously hurt Az first
thought would spare him He saved
4 nv life and was grateful. But wheI
4 l fxed the ladder and descended thu
untamable beast prepared for spring
and there was such evident malice II
his eyes that / aimed at his eye ant
fired. One shot did the work. He rollet
over dead.
II was no place for meNafter such al
adventure, and at once went in searci
Of my mustang To my great Joy h
was all right, and I was soon IN IN
saddle and ON nay way to AspinwalL
Depositing Jackson's money in tn
bank when arrived, Immediately
boarded the steamer knew that |
would not be prudent tolspeak Of th'
two Mexicans. and ! had a suspicion
that a statement of the part the monke.
had horne IN tho tragedy would be re