IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



they would not see me. I had a good hiding-place. 

 I could hear the advance of the monkeys in the noise 

 they made as they leaped from one flexible branch 

 to another. Now and then they would stop and hold 

 a conversation with Ndova. Soon after they perched 

 upon a tree from which they could look into our 

 camp. They remained silent for a while. The sight 

 was unusual to them. I was glad that Andekko had 

 gone with Rogala, for he would have barked at the 

 monkeys and frightened them away. 



I counted eleven monkeys. One was much bigger 

 than the rest, and seemed to be their leader. He was 

 looking down intently at Ndova and the stockade. 

 He was evidently trying to make out what all that 

 new sight to him meant. He was suspicious of the 

 place and did not move. The monkeys would not 

 come to the palisades without his orders. They trusted 

 in his wisdom. He was evidently their chief. I 

 watched carefully his face, which seemed very sober. 



After a while he talked to our monkey, all his fol- 

 lowers remaining silent. Ndova answered, with 

 sounds I had not heard before. " Oh dear," I said to 

 myself, " why do I not understand the language of 

 the ndovas, so that I might know what the old fellow 

 says to him ? I think he wants to entice Ndova away 

 into the forest." I was almost sorry I had not my 



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