The San Francisco call., 1907-03-03

asked him about his experiences with
the ladrones in the hills. but he smiled
inscrutably and was uncemmunica
On his last night with me. however,
over couple dozen OF San Miguel
beer, he grew confidential and told me
the following story which we must. OF
course, accept as the only authentic
and really true account Of his strange
experience.
Beard" said he, 4 didn't want to
tell this story because I was afraid
it wouldn't be believed. but you've got
some sense and I'll let you Judge for
yourself
4 was riding along that day not
thinking OF anything in particular,
when I. came to that narrow belt Of
timber about ten miles above Lalloc
that stretches clear down from the
mountains to the river Pretty soon 1
sees 4 strange kind 'of a monkey sets
tin, up in a. tree, and 4 takes q crack at
him for luck with my army six. 1
missed him, but he let a wheop you
could a heard a mile. and here they
come. Millions OF 'em il seemed like,
all like the first one. and all hoppin',
cursin' mad They shook the branches
and yelled and jabbered, a. closin. in all
the time too. mind you. I got out my
thirty some odd again and .pickin' out
the biggest ole felfer, j blazcd away.
/ got him. too, but that was my finish.
They were all over me and my horse in
a second. The horse threw me and
bolted, sheddfn' monkeys at every
jump. They piled onto me nine. deep,
and in about a minute / was wsiilin, to
arbitrste. When they finally let ME Up.
they had my gun and belt and most OF
my clothes, and the hide of me, where
Il was exposed. looked like a wind
map OF the Chiny Sea: Before I knew
what they was doin', one Of 'erl slip
ped a piece Of bahooka over my neck
and we all started of through the
bosque. them leadin' and me follerin,
along behind like a pet poodle. ! be-.
gan to think II was only a dream any
way. and that pretty soon I'd wake UP
and find myself ia my bunk, but ! was
gettin' interested now. When night
come they went to roost in the trees
and seemed TO want me 10 climb up
too and get some sleep, but ] bucked
and made my camp on the ground.
them postin' sentries over me for all
the world like soldiers.
That night I thought / could make
my getaway, but the first move 1 made
the sentry let a holler, and could see
a million eyes glarin down on me out
OF them branches in less than second,
so j. saw il was no use. Well, we
travelled along like this for three days,
me feedin' on bananas and cocoanuts
till 1 began TO wonder where this trip
was. goin to end But on the third
day we struck some fisin' ground, and
IN a little while we halted under some
mango trees. while ole Jefe went on
ahead. ! sat myself down and was
fillin up on mangos. which are pretty
good. II you don't mind the juice run
min down your neck on the outside
and sure didn' when ] heard the
blamedest 5sbberin' and screechin ever
heard in my life a-comin down the hill
behind me. ] looked around. and here
come about q thousand Missing Links.
Yes. sir; that's what they was They
was about the size OF a Filipino, and
about the color too: but, Lord, the
hair on their bodies was scatterin' like,
same as IL is on my legs. and they
walked upright on their feet and swung
their arms alongside like a man. and
where the tail ought to be was just a
lump. like the tall had been cut or
ciost Well. they came around me chat
term and skin up my good pints. like
they was thinkin some OF buyin me-
but wanted 10 make sure / wasn't
spawned or windbroke before they paid
their money. Something In their talk
sounded kind o. familiar. toos but