AARON AND ELISHEBA 



131 



Aaron watched him with deep concern, but with- , 

 out uttering a sound. 



Turning again to Aaron, he reached out for his 

 turkey bone ; but the hospitality of the little host was 

 not equal to the demand, and he drew back with a 

 shrug of his shoulder, holding the bone closer to 

 himself and then resumed eating. 



A bone was then given to the visitor by a steward, 

 and he climbed upon the hatch and took a seat on 

 the right of Elisheba, while Aaron was seated to her 

 left. As soon as the big one had taken his seat, 

 Aaron resigned his place and crowded himself in 

 between them. The three sat for a few moments in 

 this order, when the big one got up and deliberately 

 walked around to the other side of Elisheba and sat 

 down again beside her. Again Aaron forced himself 

 in between them. 



This act was repeated six or eight times, when 

 Elisheba left the hatch and took a seat on a spar 

 that lay on deck. The big ape immediately moved 

 over and sat down near her ; but by the time he was 

 seated Aaron again got in between them, and as he 

 did so he struck his rival a smart blow on the back. 

 They sat in this manner for a minute or so, wheu 

 Aaron drew back his hand and struck him again. 

 He continued his blows all the while, increasing 

 them in force and frequency, but the other did not 

 resent them. His manner was one of dignified con- 

 tempt, as if he regarded the inferior strength of his 

 assailant unworthy of his own prowess. 



It would be absurd to suppose that he was con- 



H 



