The Delta independent., 1906-02-09

ordering them to be more Quets
least expressing some sort OF super
vision Of their actions.
AT seven o'clock he and FernAndo
went among them, giving some shafp
commands. and they went quietly t0
their cages, which were fastened ~
Fernando. The rest Of us sat on tne
porch smoking, and part OF the time
played on my banjo. which laeser
appeared to greatly please my VISITOR.
Soon after nine, as we were pfepaf.
INK to 70 to our rooms, the moakey
chief, Pythagoras, pulled my coat
sleeve and walked ahead Of me to
mine. Taking a blanket that hung
upon Q peg, he motioned as II he
wanted to take it back to the piazza
l nodded my permission and he went
out with 1t. spread it and almost
asked me in SO many words II No
could sleep upon it. laughingly said:
Make yourself perfectly at home. old
fellow, at which he grinned back at
me as II he accepted it as a compli-
ment, and curled himself upon the
blanket with a great grunt OF salts.
faction, where left him.
"The next morning Fernando
brought out the monkeys. divided
them into two gangs, and commenced
the picking. Pythagoras would Iead
one gang for a while and then hurry
over to the head of the other, run
ming back to see IL any cotton had
been skipped and like the most com
petent overseer. keeping q watchful
supervision over the whole work.
Nothing like it had ever been known
on any plantation.
I'VE stopped an hour at noon and
by night, by actual weight all form
er records had been beaten by ever
one-half. What also appeared to mo
very remarkable was that the pack
ers seemed Just as lively aad aetAve
when the days work was over ~
when 1t commenced. That evening
was q repetition Of the former, but
before retiring 1 thought ! saw some
men moving around near the house.
and twice Pythagoras uttering . low
grunt darted down the steps, return
ing and shaking his head each time
as IL something disturbed him. Moth
ing. however, occurred, and I finally
went into my room and lay down, Al
though but partially undressing.
ut could not have been very long
after midnight when I awoke with
that indescribable feeling that so0e-
one was moving about the room. !
| had closed my windows on retiring.
but now felt the cool night air blow
ing soft across my face. AS ! me-
chanically grasped my revolver, cooked
It and raised myself suddSaly to .
sitting posture. felt the point OF .
sharp instrument piercing my neck. ]
family heard the sound Of q shot, the
room seemed full Of smoke and every
thing went black As fell back sense
less.
Several days had passed before
opened my eyes to returning con
sciousness and what occurred during
that interval. have learned only
from those to whose untirinE care,
assisted by my naturally strong con
stitution. ! owe my life.
The darkey I had discharged. had
crawled In through my window with
the evident intention Of robbery and
murder. Ny watch and purse lay o.
| the floor and my Aecktie with . valu'
able diamond pin had been thrust In
the pocket of his blouse. PythAgosas
had evidently heard the noise. slight
as It was, or perhaps his sense OF
smell was, ~ Fernando said, extreme.
ly acute, and his devotion to his mas.
ter's friend brought him at once to
my bedside.
Il do not know whether or not mon.
keys can see in the dark. but II not
Pythagoras's intuitions must at least
have given him sort OF second sight,
for when Fernando and the overseer
rushed in with lights, they saw that
the big ape had grasped the darkey' S
right wrist which held the knife, with
his right hand, and twisted and broke en-
the wrist, in spite Of the darkey' s
great strength, while the long fingers
Of his left hand were pressed tightly
around the throat Of tho darkey whom
he had evidently strangled with com.
parative ease. All would have been
well had I lain still. but my sudden
rising had not only plunged the knife
into my own neck. but caused the fall
| Of the revolver which fred the fatal
shot, the big bullet plowing through
TO faithful Pythagoras's brain and
killing him Instantly.
I'VE gnve the body Of the darkey
to some of his friends. but Pythagoras
was buried under q beautiful live oak.
and upon tho mound. after recovered,
placed q marble slab inscribing
upon It the words faithful to the
Death
TOu, you 381 W0ot Ueco1o Oh the
rest Of tho moukeys and my expert.
ment! Well, after the doctor said
would soon be all right again and per.
mitted me to walk about, had Fer
nando take them out and try to re-
sume tho cotton picking. which the
darkies had meanwhile nearly COM
pleted. They had been very uneasy
and had shown SO much restlessness
that the morning and evening hours
oe relaxation had been abandoned.
"They would give low ptaint.ve
means and cry out IKE children when
hurt and when released instead OF
romping and jumping a. ut first, would
gather in groups and chatter together
Al II talking over some trouble. Then