CHAPTER XXXIX 



M l'VE GOT HIM." 



^llT was Dick's turn to laugh, and you may be sure he did so with as hearty mirth 

 as he ever enjoyed in all his life. 



Both boys were bareheaded, with little apparent chance of recovering their 

 property. 



" That beats everything," was the rueful exclamation of Bob Marshall; M I 

 expected an attempt of the kind, but was sure I couldn't be outwitted." 



"There's one way we can secure our hats," added Dick, who was on the point of 

 losing his temper; " and that is to shoot the thieves, and I'll do it, too, if we don't 

 get them pretty soon." 



"They only mean it for fun, and we won't shoot them unless we have to. Watch 

 me while I go for this fellow." 



The baboon that had stolen Bob's property was smaller than the other thief, but 

 seemed more venturesome. Halting less than a rod distant, the impudent fellow 

 reached out the trophy, chattering and making the funniest of grimaces, as if invit- 

 ing the owner to try to regain it. 



Bob imitated his cousin's tactics, but, taking lesson from his failure, sought to 

 get closer before snatching it back again. 



The creature allowed him to come quite near, and, instead 

 of making a quick grab at it, the youth slowly extended his 

 hand, in the hope of throwing him off his guard. 



But the animal was not to be deceived 

 that way. As the hand advanced that of 

 the baboon receded, and the distance be 

 tween the two was not diminished. 



Suddenly, as Bob was on the very 

 point of darting his fingers after it, the 

 thief had the impudence to turn squarely 

 around and begin walking off, with a 

 mincing gait, glancing over his shoulder 

 at the discomfited youngster, in a way 

 that tantalized him beyond endurance. 

 " Take that, then ! " 

 Bob made one bound, and, concentrat- 

 ing all his strength in his righ; leg, deliv- 

 ered a kick which, had it landed, would have lifted the animal several feet In air. 

 But the creature was too nimble to permit the boot to land. He hopped out of 



226 



A SECOND Too LATK. 



