The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-23

as silent, as motlonless, observing him.
Weldon looked from one TO the other,
and his glance surveyed the open space
back Of and between the apparent SEN
tinels on a large fiat-topped rock sat in
silent row, about a dozen OF similar
figures, all very grave. all very observant.
the steady gaze OF every one OF them con-
centrated on the bcyclist Weldon was n
little short sighted, and he rose to his
feet, putting on his eyeglasses to study
these strange people more minutely
"They don't look like the natives
neither Houentot nor Kafiirs Surely they
can't be the dwarf Bushmen."
Then his glasses dropped and he threw
back his head with a loud laugh.
| "Baboonsl" he cried. THE ugly rus
cals-thats certainly one on mev'
At that shout the little conclave on the
rocks was greatly startled and there at
once commenced among them such an in
dlgnant chatterlng as might have been
in a decorlous meeting Of church elders,
disturbed by n rude intrusion. The SEN
tinels scampered from their posts to Join
in the general discussion, and many OF
the almost human like monkeys began to
grimace at Weldon angrilY, and shake
their paws threateningly. But thls made
the lad only laugh more loudly. Their
iabberng rage seemed so futile and ride
ulous A cheeky llttle member Of the
band suddenly ran out in front of the rest,
and with a gamin-lke expression OF con-
tempt and anger picked a stone from the
ground and threw il at the wheelman. The
rock, in the hands of stouter and Older
baboon might have hit Weldon, but the
cheeky little apes arms were not yet
muscular enough The missile fell short.
StUl the accuracy Of the throw delighted
the American, who had never thought
that MONKEYS Of any species could attack
in this way. He cried out, laughing:
Good for you, you young scamp, but
you must do better If you want to learn
baseball Like this, you know"
Lost In enjoyment of this unexpected fun
with the balloons he did not notice that
May had come up the hill, and was now
looking on with surprise. Weldon stopped
TO pick up a fair sized pebble, and, before
May could jump forward crying out
don f'-the American, in the very best
style of the diamond. had hoped a mo-
ment on one foot, and launched with skill
full arm the stone cover the plate" IL was,
in It's results, too well pitched ball by
far. 1t caught the unfortunate monkey
who had thrown the rock, fairly IN the
neck, and he toppled over Ike ninepin,
and lay quite still. Weldon was astonished
and renorseful at the success of his
throw: the little prone figure looked so hui
man and helpless. He turned to May with
A half laugh, but was surprised TO see his
friend leap for his wheel, and to hear him
cali out: Come on; you've done 1t now;
let's get out of thisW
whats the matter?"
Come on! Don't you know band Of
baboons are fearless when together and
angry? They have been known to drive
away a lion and we haven't even pistol
between u.s. Come on! See, they're after
weldon looked at the group which he
had found so grave and silent. Now they
we're wildly chatterng, crying out, and
lamenting over the senseless body OF their
Young comrade Suddenly they formeh
together. and with a series OF great
bounds and running now on all four paws,
now on two, they charged on the two
trends. Rather frightened at the conse-
ouence Of teaching a baboon to play BAL,
Weldon jumped on his wheel, and, just
as he did 50, the balloons resorted to their
favorite weapon, and, selling here and
there rocks of large size. they discharged
a volley Of them after the fugltlves. The
stones fell an about the riders; one struck
MAYS front wheel and almost capsized
him but they themselves were unhurt.
The road now wound down hill, which
was TOO rough and steep for more than
cautious riders, but, urged forward by the
cries of the babboons and the stone throw
ing the friends dashed down IL at full
speed.
"The brutes are following" yelled We'll
don. as q rock grazed his head. and, look
ing back May saw that, with incredible
swiftness, the pack was bounding behind,
never ceasng their revengeful cries, and
their artillery fire Of stones. But the cy-
clists gained. The road turned sharply
ana shut them from the view of the mon
keys and 10 their disgust saw yet another
steep hill rise in front Still the yelps
OF the balloons sounded in the rear.
put your back into II, old MANI yelled
May. and the two young men rushed down
the last few yards Of mill with such speed
that the velocity gained carried them well
up the ascent. STOPPING low, they worked
the pedals with all their might, but half
way up the wheels began TO wiggle, wag-
gle and they had to jump off
push ON cried Weldon, grlmy, SHOW
ing his wheel ahead. TEsy were stin
however, far from the top when the rag