156 APES AND MONKEYS 



If I yielded, she would again change her mind and start 

 off in some other direction. If forced to submit, she 

 would scream and struggle as if for life. I cannot forego 

 the belief that these freaks were due to a base and per- 

 verse nature, and I could find no higher motive in her 

 stubborn conduct. 



Aaron was very fond of her and rarely ever opposed 

 her inflexible will. He clung to her and let her lead the 

 way. I have often felt vexed at him because he complied 

 so readily with her wishes. The only case in which he 

 took sides against her was in her conduct towards me. 



When I first secured her she had the temper of a 

 demon, and with the smallest pretext she would assault 

 me and try to bite me or tear my clothes. In these 

 attacks Aaron was always with me, and the loyal little 

 champion would fly at her in the greatest fur}-. He would 

 strike her over the head and back with his hands, and bite 

 her and flog her till she desisted. If she returned the 

 blow he would grasp her hand and bite it, or strike her in 

 the face. He would continue to fight till she submitted. 

 Then he would celebrate his victory by jumping up and 

 down in a most grotesque fashion, stamping his feet, slap- 

 ping his hands on the ground, and grinning like a mask. 

 He seemed as conscious of what he had done and as proud 

 of it as any human could have been ; but no matter what 

 she did to others, he was always on her side of the ques- 

 tion. If any one else annoyed her, he would always resent 

 it with violence. 



About the premises there were natives all the time pass- 

 ing to and fro, and these two little captives were objects of 



