I can well believe that this second attack from a 

 different and wholly unexpected quarter thoroughly 

 roused him, and can picture how he turned to face 

 it. 



It was at this moment that Jim first noticed what was 

 going on. The other boys had not expected anything 

 when Seedling called the dog, and they were taken 

 completely by surprise by what followed. Jim would 

 have known what to expect : his kraal was in the neigh- 

 bourhood ; he knew Seedling well, and had already 

 suffered in fines and confiscations at his hands ; he 

 also knew about the baboon ; but he was ignorant, just 

 as I was, of the fact that Seedling had left his old place 

 across the river and come to live in the new hut, bring- 

 ing his pet with him. 



It was the hoarse threatening shout of the baboon 

 as it jumped at Jock, as much as the exclamations of 

 the boys, that roused Jim. He knew instantly what was 

 on, and grabbing a stick made a dash to save the dog, 

 with the other boys following him. 



When Jock was sent spinning in the dust the baboon 

 recovered itself first, and standing up on its hind legs 

 reached out its long ungainly arms towards him, and 

 let out a shout of defiance. Jock regaining his feet 

 dashed in, jumped aside, feinted again and again, as 

 he had learnt to do when big horns swished at him ; 

 and he kept out of reach just as he had done ever since 

 the duiker taught him the use of its hoofs. He knew 

 what to do, just as he had known how to swing the 

 porcupine : the dog for all the fighting fury that 

 possessed him took the measure of the chain and kept 



397 



