THE HIPPO POOL 



Darwin. Darwin was another monkey of the same 

 species, caught about a week later. Darwin's face 

 was sober and pondering, and his methods direct 

 and effective. No side excursions into the bril> 

 liant though evanescent fields of fancy diverted 

 him from his ends. These were, generally, to get 

 the most and best food and the warmest corner for 

 sleep. When he had acquired a nut, a kernel of 

 corn, or a piece of fruit, he sat him down and ex- 

 amined it thoroughly and conscientiously and then, 

 conscientiously and thoroughly, he devoured it. 

 No extraneous interest could distract his attention; 

 not for a moment. That he had sounded the seri- 

 ousness of life is proved by the fact that he had ob- 

 served and understood the flighty character of Funny 

 Face. When Funny Face acquired a titbit, Darwin 

 took up a hump-backed position near at hand, his 

 bright little eyes fixed on his friend's activities. 

 Funny Face would nibble relishingly at his prune 

 for a moment or so; then an altogether astonishing 

 butterfly would flitter by just overhead. Funny 

 Face, lost in ecstasy would gaze skyward after the 

 departing marvel. This was Darwin's opportunity. 

 In tw^o hops he was at Funny Face's side. With 

 great deliberation, but most businesslike directness, 

 Darwin disengaged Funny Face's unresisting fingers 

 from the prune, seized it, and retired, Funny Fage 



3*9 



