AARON 



111 



and afford the only way of crossing these otherwise 

 trackless jungles. 



The only means of passing these dismal swamps 

 is to wade through the thin slimy mud, often more 

 than knee-deep, and sometimes extending many 

 hundred feet in width, intercepted at almost every 

 step by the tangled roots of mangrove-trees under 

 foot, or clusters of vines hanging from the boughs 

 overhead. 



Such was the route we came, but iVaron did not 

 realise how severe the task of his carrier was in 

 trudging his way through such places, and the little 

 rogue often added to the labour by seizing hold of 

 limbs or vines that hung within his reach in passing, 

 and thus retarded the progress of the boy, who 

 strongly protested against the ape amusing himself 

 in this manner. The latter seemed to know of no 

 reason why he should not do so, and the former did 

 not deign to give one, and so the quarrel went on 

 until we reached the river, but by that time each of 

 them had imbibed a hatred for the other that 

 nothing in the future ever allayed. Neither of 

 them ever forgot it while they were associated, and 

 both of them evinced their aversion on all occasions. 

 The boy gave vent to his dislike by making ugly 

 faces at the ape, which the latter resented by 

 screaming and trying to bite him. Aaron refused 

 to eat any food given him by the boy, and the boy 

 would not give him a morsel except when required 

 to do so. At times the feud became ridiculous, and 

 it only ended in their final separation. The last 



