THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 133 



have fine games with those degenerate birds, which are 

 content to do nothing else but lay eggs all their lives for 

 their master's breakfast, and when they grow old are 

 content to be sent to market to be sold to supply flesh food 

 for townspeople. At last I got tired of scaring them off, 

 or tumbling them over and over. I used to try all kinds of 

 dodges to capture the old rooster, but he was far too 'cute. 

 He would stand by the hour and eye me suspiciously. As 

 soon as I climbed my pole, he strutted forward, and with one 

 eye on me, would gobble up the remains of my dinner, 

 in the dish on the ground. I tried to drop upon him, but 

 he was too smart. I wasn't going to be beaten by a common 

 fowl — not I. Sitting in my box, I spent a whole day in 

 thought. My head ached with the effort. I was rewarded. 

 A brilhant idea occurred to me. Next day I pretended to 

 be sick, and just nibbled my food. The rooster came as 

 usual, and when I was at a safe distance began gobbling 

 up the food. I paid no heed. This went on all that day, 

 and the next. I saw that the old cock's suspicions were 

 growing less and less. The third day I left most of my 

 food uneaten, and lay apparently fast asleep on the ground. 



The cock eyed me for a long time. Then he made ever 

 so many feints to try to draw me. I lay perfectly still. 

 At last he approached, gave a peck or two and bolted. 

 Again and again he tried this dodge. Seeing I remained 

 apparently asleep and oblivious of his actions he became 

 bolder. Judging my distance I propelled myself like a 

 stone from a sling and grabbed him by the leg. He shrieked 

 and gabbled in mortal terror, and his wives joined in the 

 chorus. Holding him down with my feet, which are quite 

 as good as hands, I began to pluck his feathers out. What 

 fun I had, to be sure, and how I chattered and grinned to 

 see those feathers float away in the breeze. When I had 

 plucked nearly all his feathers off my master suddenly came 

 riding down the avenue. I let the rooster go, but my 



