16 
ALMOST HUMAN 
pebbles they had on hand, which, when cemented together, made a very 
ornamental and effective floor, and one which Jacko in course of time 
learned to appraise at its true value. People have never been able to 
resist tormenting monkeys, and Jacko was decidedly no exception to this 
rule. As he could not reach them to pay them back, he was quite 
defenceless until one happy day he discovered that he could loosen the 
pebbles. Thereafter many a person left the gardens with a bruise 
presented by Jacko. He could fling these stones with the accuracy of 
a sharp-shooter. If he missed his aim it was miraculous ; if he did not, 
the offender knew all about it for some time afterwards, for pebbles 
thrown from his hand were more dangerous than those from boys’ 
shanghais. 
Through rubbing his chain constantly on the uneven pebbles, some 
of the links wore thin, and on one memorable day Jacko got loose, 
carrying about three feet of chain with him. Immediately there was a 
great hue and cry among the keepers: “Jacko is loose!” But he easily 
outstripped the men after him, and triumphantly sprang over the front 
gate. His chain got caught in the spikes rising above a cross bar of 
wood, which had been placed above the gate to keep mischievous boys at 
bay. It was wonderful that he was not hanged like Jacob, but his 
fortunes were better. He had somehow prevented strangulation, but 
there he hung, baffled, for a few moments. “Come on, boys, he’s caught!” 
cried Mr. Wilkie. Jacko heard the well-known voice, and, turning, he 
gave the chain a tremendous jerk with one hand. He snapped the 
wooden bar fairly in two, and just as the men reached the spot he set 
off ambling towards Flemington road. He had rolled the chain deftly 
over one arm, holding the end in his hand so as to avoid tripping over it 
in any way. Even though he was running on three legs, however, he 
was able to make sufficient pace to keep his pursuers, who were armed 
with lassos, well behind him. A Newfoundland dog, dawdling in the 
middle of the road, got a terrible surprise when he saw this unknown 
specimen of his tribe, (as he thought), bearing down upon him. 
Valiantly, he charged, but Jacko stood up on his hind legs and met him 
like a man. He gripped the dog by the scruff of the neck and threw 
him clean over his shoulder. He did not stay to see the effect of this 
treatment upon the unfortunate dog, for one quick glance behind warned 
him that he had no time to spare if he wished for further freedom. The 
Newfoundland had come down upon his back, but in an instant had 
scrambled to his feet and stood staring at the black apparition loping 
off again on three legs. Was that overpowering force man or beast? 
How could it change from one to the other like that? He sank down on 
