THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 31 



ground, whilst my mother was gathering mealie cobs to 

 take to our home for supper, when, without warning, there 

 was a bang. I saw a puff of smoke, and my mother gave 

 a gasp of pain and fell. She raised herself and tried to 

 get to me. I was so terrified I couldn't move. Mother 

 groaned and gasped in great agony, for she had been shot 

 through the lungs. Three times she struggled to reach 

 me, and at last with one great effort she thrust out her 

 arm, seized and hugged me tight to her breast. Then a 

 man and a dog came running up. Mother lay on her side 

 and held me tight, placing her body between me and the 

 man. The dog sprang at her. She tried to fight, but all 

 she could do was to cover me up with her arms. Then 

 the gun went off again, and mother fell dead on top of me. 



Presently I was dragged out, and the man held me up 

 by the neck, and looked into my face. I shivered with fear, 

 because I thought he was going to kill me. Instead of that 

 he thrust me into a small haversack and buttoned me in. 

 I sobbed and cried, and called and called for my mother — 

 but alas ! mother was dead. 



I was taken to the man's home, and placed in a cosy 

 blanket-lined basket. I cried myself to sleep. Next day 

 I felt very faint and hungry. A dear, sweet-looking girl 

 came along, and, gently coaxing me, thrust something soft 

 into my mouth. It felt familiar somehow, so I began to 

 suck, and to my joy nice sweet milk came flowing into my 

 parched mouth. 



I soon got used to my new home, for the humanfolk 

 children were very kind and gentle with me. They nursed 

 me by turns all day long. 



I WAS SENT A JOURNEY 



They soon grew tired of me because I got indigestion 

 from drinking so much milk, and became very irritable and 



