138 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 



nets and ropes and filed into the jungle blackness. 



By the time it was light, each man was at his 

 post, waiting for me to fire my pistol as a signal. 

 We could see the two orang-outangs sleeping on 

 their platform. 



The men who were to give the trees the final cut 

 and send them toppling over stole forward silently. 

 Ali was beside me, carrying my rifle; Omar and 

 Munshee were stationed near, one at each side. I 

 waited, scarcely daring to breathe, for them to sig- 

 nal that their men were ready. Ali was intently 

 watching the orangs, to warn me if they stirred. 



Omar moved first ; then Munshee. I gave a quick 

 glance around and fired my pistol. Instantly the 

 tumult started; the men yelled and beat upon tom- 

 toms and trees. The orang-outangs leaped up be- 

 wildered and scrambled about their platform. 

 Through the noise I could hear the men at work 

 with their parangs ; then came the crashing of trees. 

 The jungle seemed to fold up, and the big tree stood 

 alone. The orangs screamed and hugged each 

 other. Men rushed forward with the bundles of dry 

 grass and started the fire; others came with wet 

 leaves to make a smudge. One of the orangs start- 

 ed, as if to come down, and I reached for my rifle; 

 but when the smoke struck him, he went back to 

 the platform, screaming and tearing the tree. Then, 

 as the smoke became more dense, the two animals 

 climbed higher and sat on the topmost limb, arms 



