220 KEES THE BABOON 



he bolted with it up the nearest tree, where he ate it in 

 peace, pelting his enemy with the broken shells. Then 

 the dog would return to his master with his tail between 

 his legs. 



This was the bad side of Kees ; but he had a great 

 many very good qualities. He was an early riser, and 

 when he was up himself he woke the dogs, who held him 

 in great awe, and signed to them to take up their different 

 positions about the tent, which they did without a 

 moment's delay. Then he was devoted to his master, 

 who gives many instances of his loyalty and affection. 

 One day, an officer in fun pretended to strike Le Vaillant, 

 and Kees at the sight became so violent he could hardly 

 be restrained or pacified. The officer, who had not expected 

 the action would make such a deep impression, tried to 

 appease him by offers of fruit, but quite in vain. Never 

 again would the faithful creature have anything to do 

 with the man, and if he caught sight of him ever so far off 

 he would cry and grind his teeth and prepare to fly at him ; 

 so that at last, during the officer's stay in the camp, it was 

 necessary to chain him down. 



Many, too, were the hardships shared by the pair of 

 friends out hunting, and here, again, Kees' fidelity never 

 failed. The man might sink to the ground worn out with 

 heat and fatigue, parched with thirst, and fainting with 

 hunger, but the monkey never left his side. If there was 

 anywhere within reasonable distance a root or tree that 

 would give them a little relief, Kees would scent it out. 

 Sometimes when found it would have no stalk, so the 

 root could not be extracted in the usual way. Then Kees 

 began to scratch up the hard-baked earth with his claws 

 —a painful as well as a slow process — and it was lucky 

 that his master had a hunting-knife with which to come 

 to the rescue. How they would both enjoy that root, 

 when, after so many struggles, they got it at last ! 



How surprised a traveller would be if, in the course 



