14 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



one of our leaders places himself on guard. He climbs up 

 to the highest point of a rock, or to the top of a tree where 

 he can have a good view in all directions. Then we troop 

 off to look for food, or to play or bask in the sun. If our 

 sentry should see an enemy, or even anything at all suspicious, 

 he instantly warns us with a loud and long-drawn-out sort 

 of " H-o-c-h." Then we all make off as fast as we can 

 for our homes amongst the rocks, without looking to see 

 if there is really cause for alarm. Sometimes we have 

 false alarms, but we think it's always best to err on the 

 safe side. 



NEGLECT OF DUTY— THE PUNISHMENT 



Once we went out to get our breakfast, and posted a 

 rather young man to act as sentry. He was a very con- 

 ceited young fellow, and declared his eyes and his wits 

 were sharper than those of the grizzled, experienced old 

 leaders of our clan. We were peacefully collecting and 

 eating our food, when an unearthly shriek rent the air ; 

 then another and yet another. Our menfolk rushed in 

 the direction of the sounds, and were just in time to see 

 a leopard bound off into the thick thorny bush with one 

 of our children. We followed him up, but the bush was 

 so thick and thorny, we couldn't make much progress, and 

 soon gave up trying to follow the spoor. 



When we emerged from the bush, our old leader stalked 

 off in the direction of that untrustworthy sentinel. Seeing 

 the chief coming, he divined the reason, and began to 

 plead and pray for mercy. The chief paid no heed, but 

 advancing upon him, he, with a grunt of indignation, 

 seized the sentinel by the back of his neck, and with his 

 other hand cuffed him soundly. 



