26 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



I carefully watched all that went on. I saw a group of men 

 talking earnestly together, and then scatter. I knew a 

 plot had been hatched out against me. 



THEY TRIED TO SHOOT ME 



Presently I saw a man approach. He looked very 

 suspicious. I divined his intention. He suddenly vanished 

 behind a hedge. Carefully watching the spot I caught 

 the glint of a rifle barrel. I instantly drew in my head and 

 managed to keep him under observation by squinting round 

 the corner of the chimney with one eye. He got tired of 

 waiting and got up and tried to get me at a disadvantage. 

 Fortunately for me I couldn't be tackled from the rear 

 as the roof ascended higher in that direction. 



They then tried other tactics. A ladder was raised, 

 then another at the opposite side. Then, like a flash it 

 was borne in on me they were going to outflank me, for it 

 was clear if there were two men with guns, and if they got 

 up the ladders, I was doomed. There was still hope. A 

 slender chance of escape remained. It was my only one. 

 I took it. Erecting my mane, and putting on my most 

 ferocious expression, I gave a succession of hoch-hoch- 

 hoch barks, and with a bound sprang amongst the crowd. 

 Landing on a man's head, he was borne to the ground. In 

 quick succession I bit whoever was nearest me. Yes, my 

 plan succeeded, I managed to create a panic, and in the 

 confusion I slipped away. 



Careering down a lane, several mongrel dogs tackled me. 

 We had a rough and tumble fight, and presently three of 

 them lay maimed or dead. The others fled. With many 

 wounds, bruises, and almost exhausted, I reached the fields 

 and, slipping into the mimosa bushes, crawled away to 

 safety. Never again did I venture near the habitations of 

 man. 



