68 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



to the rescue, but curiosity overcame him, and he watched. 

 In breathless suspense we, too, watched. I was overcome 

 with terror and suspense. There stood the farmer-man 

 with his gun ready to shoot, in such a position that our 

 chief was obhged to pass within fifty paces of him. 



Seizing my child in his arms and holding it close to 

 his breast with one hand, our noble chief made straight 

 for the bush. Suddenly the farmer-man rode forward, 

 and getting within thirty paces of our brave leader, he 

 raised his gun to shoot. Quick as thought, our chief drew 

 my child round to his side, and half-turning received the 

 full charge of loopers in his right side and back. With 

 an agonising cry, he lurched forward and feU headlong. 

 Rising, he staggered a pace but again fell. With a last 

 dying effort he seemed to be trying to induce my child to 

 run, but she was too terrified, and clung tightly to his 

 neck. Seizing her by the back of the neck, the farmer- 

 man thrust her into a bag and carried her off. 



We do not blame that farmer-man for we know he hates 

 our tribe, because we take his meahes and his fruit, but that 

 man must have been truly very stony-hearted to have shot 

 down one of our folk whilst performing an act which only 

 the noblest and bravest of you humanfolk would attempt. 

 If that had been a battlefield, and one of your folk had 

 rushed out across an open field, right in the face of the 

 enemy, to rescue a child, the whole world would have 

 been ringing with the account of the noble deed. But 

 alas ! we are only baboonfolk, and we don't count. We 

 are only animals, and we haven't any feehngs — so many of 

 you think. But you are wrong all the same. 



WE ARE NOT WILFULLY CRUEL 



Many of you humanfolk say we are cruel and blood- 

 thirsty, because we often kill your dogs. You are altogether 



