MILITARY AD VENTURES. 171 



it had both barrels cocked, and now at 

 the moment of my recovering my senses, 

 one of the tribe, taking it up to examine 

 it with accustomed curiosity, pulled one 

 of the triggers, and hence the explosion 

 which might have blown my head off. 

 The effect of this was most startling, and, 

 under God's blessing, was the means of 

 saving my life, for every monkey within 

 sight or hearing took to his heels in 

 terrible fear, and, in an incredibly short 

 time there was not one to be seen. 



I staggered to my legs, and seeing the 

 coast clear, I seized my gun and retraced 

 my steps at my best pace. I had not 

 gone far when I met all my own establish- 

 ment, and they raised a shout of joy at 

 seeing me safe, as they were seriously 

 alarmed at finding the party had returned 

 without me ; and the runaways had given 



