Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-08-10

or two was hurled at me from some
leafy covert and then the gigantic
monkey would give n horrible laugh
and scamper away. lie was a funny
looking chap In my blue flannel coat,
but was too angry to enjoy the comic
inspect of the matter. 1t struck me that
II the brute caught me in the dark he
would make an end OF me in no time.
IL was both horrible and humiliating,
such death In the tangled forests OF
this savage land.
just then saw a short distance OF,
In a clearing, a square stone hut Here
was shelter and protection. was not
disappointed much to lind II uninhab-
tied. II 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 a small apartment dimly lighted
by round holes In the wall, which had
evidently been used by shnrpshooters
at some revolutionary period In the his
tory OF the country. My mind was
made up in an instant. I went back TO
my mustang and picketed him about
one hundred and sixty yards from the
hut In the bushes. Then | returned 10
my fortress just as the darkness closed
In upon me, and sought refuge In tho
loft pulling up the ladder after me.
was safe here, even from the monkeys,
and | lay down feeling a sense of per
feet sec urity.
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 moth
ing. struck a match, and by the flick
ering flame recognized the monkey.
The W reich 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 destruo-
tion In the morning. | was satisfied
that the animal belonged TO n species
OF mountain apes Of great strength and
terrible ferocity. Their cunning, I
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 settled
on this plan, | was about dropping into
a doze, when heard voices outside'ths
hut. listened with alert ears.
III, IA you say, Pedro, this American
Is inside, we should ambush him and
shoot him when no comes out In tho
morning"
Now, by all the saints, Juan" was
the reply Of Pedro, you are coward
ly 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 tho
monkey?' | said to myself with a
chucklc.
81 hear the American moving, said
Pedro.
II was the monkey. The monster
was walking In circle all the time,
and the dead leaves that had drifted
into the hut rustlcd under his feet.
There was another whispered consulta-
tion, and the Mcxicans 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
headlonR against the walls.
Mother Of Moses" gasped Juan.
knife hint"
The robbers made another rush.
"Ahl ah" yelled Pedro. where are
you, Juan2 This hog of an American
has me by the throat and have lost
my knife"
"lle Is a demon" groaned Juan.
Gle is pounding my head against tho
walt"
A volley of yells followed aud then a
chorus Of groans. Through II all I
heard an ominous dull thud. At length
silence prevailed, and then knew that
all was over.
My last match was gone, but TO my
great delight II was almost morning.
With the first rays Of daylight peercd
| through the hole In the floor. IL was
CHASTITY sight that met my gaze The
two Mexicans lay on the floor quite
| dead. Their heads had been smashed TO
jelly against tho bare walls and their
throats bore dark blue marks,
Sitting in the corner was the monkey.
He was bleeding protusoly and was
evidently seriously hurt At first I
thought | would spare him. lie
saved my life and was CRATE
full. but when fixed the ladder
and descended the untamable beast
prepared for spring, and there
was such evident malice In his eyes
that aimed at his eye and fired. One
shot did the work lie rolled over dead.
II was no place for me after such an
adventure, and at once went In search
Of my mustang, 70 my great Joy he
was all right and was soon In the
saddle and on my way 20 Aspinwall.
Depositing Jackson's money In tho
bank when | arrived l Immediately
boarded the steamer. | knew that II
would not be prudent 10 speak Of the
two MoXicans, and / had suspicion
that a statement Of the part the mon
key had borne in the tragedy would be
regarded by the authorities as a cock
and-bull story, So | wisely kept my
mouth shut until was again among
friends.
OF course / have never wasted any
regret on Pedro and Juan, but 1 still
hold my horrible friend, the monkey,