diff options
Diffstat (limited to '29254-h/29254-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | 29254-h/29254-h.htm | 2502 |
1 files changed, 2502 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/29254-h/29254-h.htm b/29254-h/29254-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..531d13c --- /dev/null +++ b/29254-h/29254-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2502 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Monkey That Would Not Kill, by Henry Drummond. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 15%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 3em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + color: #BDBDBD; +} + +hr.hr2 { + width: 10%; + margin-top: 2.5em; + margin-bottom: 2.5em; + clear: both; + color: #BDBDBD; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 95%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: #C0C0C0; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-align: center;} + +.caption {font-variant: small-caps; text-align: center; margin-top: 1px;} + +.image {text-align: center;} + +h2.chapter {font-size: 145%; padding-bottom: 0.75em;} + +.sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + +table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + +.minispace {margin-bottom: 1em;} + +.microspace {margin-bottom: .5em;} + +.nanospace {padding-bottom: .25em;} + +.stext {font-size: 92%;} + +.border2 { + border-style: solid; + border-width: 2px; + background: #FFFFFF; + border-color: #000000; + margin: auto; +} + +.blockquote {margin-left: 3em; font-size: 95%; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + +.tnote { + border-style: double; + border-width: 6px; + padding: 1em; + background: #FFFFFF; + text-align: center; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + font-size: 95%; + border-color: #000000; +} + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Monkey That Would Not Kill, by Henry Drummond + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Monkey That Would Not Kill + +Author: Henry Drummond + +Illustrator: Louis Wain + +Release Date: June 27, 2009 [EBook #29254] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MONKEY THAT WOULD NOT KILL *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Meredith Bach, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="tnote"> +<h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> + +Incorrect page numbers in the list of illustrations have been changed. +</div> + +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="image"> +<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="348" height="550" alt="cover" title="" /></div> + +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<h2>THE MONKEY THAT WOULD NOT KILL</h2> + +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 301px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="ifrontis" id="ifrontis"></a><img src="images/ifrontis.jpg" width="301" height="551" alt="WITH THE STONE IN HIS ARMS HE WALKED CALMLY +TOWARDS THE SHORE" title="" /> +<span class="caption">WITH THE STONE IN HIS ARMS HE WALKED CALMLY +TOWARDS THE SHORE</span> +</div> + +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> + + + +<hr /> +<h1 style="margin-bottom: 1.5em;">THE MONKEY<br /> +THAT WOULD NOT KILL</h1> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> + +<h2><small>BY</small><br /> +HENRY DRUMMOND</h2> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> + +<div class="image"><img src="images/ititle.png" width="390" height="37" alt="With Sixteen Full-page Illustrations" title="" /></div> + +<h2><small>BY</small><br /> +LOUIS WAIN</h2> + +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<h3><span style="font-size: 115%;">NEW YORK</span><br /> +DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY<br /> +1915</h3> + + +<hr /> +<h4><i>Copyright, 1897,</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By Dodd, Mead and Company</span></h4> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<h2 class="chapter">PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>A few years ago, the readers of +"Wee Willie Winkie" detected a new +vein running through the Editorial +Notes and announcements which prefaced +the monthly collection of juvenile +literary efforts, which made up their +little Magazine.</p> + +<p>There was an originality and a +humour which they had not noticed before, +and Competitions were suggested +to them of a type for a repetition of +which they clamoured.</p> + +<p>And then presently a new serial story +began, and the hairbreadth escapes of +that immortal Monkey which it recorded +were breathlessly followed by Wee Willie +Winkie's army of bairns all over the +world; and when it was concluded, so +numerous were the entreaties for a sequel, +that compulsion had to be resorted to +in order to secure the revelation of the +later life of the hero under a new name.</p> + +<p>And now at last the Editors who were +responsible for the periodical referred to +have to make a confession.</p> + +<p>Once upon a time they both, mother +and daughter, forsook their office and +went away to Canada for several months +in 1891, and during that time their joint +editorial chair was occupied by no other +than Professor Henry Drummond.</p> + +<p>And now our readers will understand +to whom they are indebted for the +quaint sayings and funny stories and +Competitions betokening someone who +"understood" boys—and girls too. +And they will be grateful to a certain +contributor who failed to send his copy +in time for the monthly issue on one +occasion, and so forced the then Editor +to sit down and write "something." It +was the first time he had ever tried to +write fiction, and as the story grew under +his pen, he began to realise the joy of +creation. And so it was that, in spite +of his playful deprecation of "such nonsense" +being printed, the adventures of +"the Monkey that would not kill" came +to be told, and we know that we can do +our old friends and readers no greater +kindness than to dedicate these chronicles +to them in permanent form, in +memory of one to whom "Wee Willie" +and his bairns were ever a subject of +affectionate interest.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> + +<p style="margin-left: 30em;">ISHBEL ABERDEEN,<br /> +MARJORIE A. H. GORDON,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Editors of</i> "<i>Wee Willie Winkie</i>."</span> +</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="sc">Government House, Ottawa,<br /> +<span style="font-variant: normal; margin-left: 3em;"><i>November, 1897</i>.</span></div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<div class="minispace"> </div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table of contents" width="38%"> +<tr><td align="center">I</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="right" class="stext">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">THE MONKEY THAT WOULD NOT KILL</td><td align="right"><a href="#monkey">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">II</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">GUM</td><td align="right"><a href="#gum">57</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<div class="minispace"> </div> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="list of illustrations" width="50%"> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">WITH THE STONE IN HIS ARMS HE WALKED CALMLY<br /> TOWARDS THE SHORE</td><td align="right"><i><a href="#ifrontis">Frontispiece</a></i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext"></td><td align="right" class="stext">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">TRICKY UPSET EVERYTHING</td><td align="right"><a href="#i005">5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">NEXT MORNING TRICKY WAS STILL THERE</td><td align="right"><a href="#i013">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">IT WAS ONLY TRICKY SHAKING THE SALT-WATER OFF</td><td align="right"><a href="#i017">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">HE BEGAN WITH THE PARROT</td><td align="right"><a href="#i021">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">THE SHEPHERD BOLTED LIKE WILDFIRE</td><td align="right"><a href="#i025">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">ALL WAS READY</td><td align="right"><a href="#i033">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">HE TOOK MONKEY AND STONE AND HEAVED THEM OVER THE CLIFF</td><td align="right"><a href="#i043">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">TRICKY HELD BACK THE BABY</td><td align="right"><a href="#i055">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">THE MONKEY'S RESCUE</td><td align="right"><a href="#i063">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">A MONKEY PERFORMING GYMNASTIC EXERCISES</td><td align="right"><a href="#i071">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">BURIED HIS TEETH IN THE CONDUCTOR'S WRIST</td><td align="right"><a href="#i077">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">THE NUGGET OF GOLD</td><td align="right"><a href="#i085">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">POINTING A LOADED REVOLVER AT HIS HEAD</td><td align="right"><a href="#i089">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">THE CAN OF GUNPOWDER TIED TO HIS TAIL</td><td align="right"><a href="#i103">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="stext">THE MOST PRECIOUS OF ALL IS GUM</td><td align="right"><a href="#i113">113</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter"><a name="monkey" id="monkey"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + + +<p>There is no such thing as an immortal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +monkey, but this monkey was as near +it as possible. Talk of a cat's nine +lives—this monkey had ninety! A +monkey's business in the world is +usually to make everybody merry, but +the special mission of this one, I fear, +was to make everybody as angry as +ever they could be. In wrath-producing +power, in fact, this monkey +positively shone.</p> + +<p>How many escapes the monkey had +before the run-away slave presented it +to the missionary—from whom I first +heard of it—no one knows. It certainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +had not much hair on when it +arrived, and there was an ominous scar +on its head, and its ears were not +wholly symmetrical. But the children +were vastly delighted with it, and after +much kind treatment the creature was +restored to rude health, and, I must +confess, to quite too rude spirits. The +children wanted him baptized by the +time-honoured title of 'Jacko'; but +by a series of exploits in which the +monkey distinguished himself at the +expense of every member of the household +in turn, it became evident that +only one name would fit a quadruped +of his peculiar disposition; and that +was 'Tricky.' Tricky, therefore, he +was called, and as Tricky he lived +and—did <i>not</i> die.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 317px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i005" id="i005"></a><img src="images/i005.jpg" width="317" height="551" alt="TRICKY UPSET EVERYTHING" title="" /> +<span class="caption">TRICKY UPSET EVERYTHING</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + +<p>There was no peace in the home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +after Tricky came. He ate everything, +upset everything, broke everything, +stole everything, did everything +that the average monkey ought not +to do. If they shut him up in a room, +Tricky got out by the chimney. If +they put him out of the room, Tricky +came in by the chimney. What could +you do with such a creature? He +could not be kept in, and he could +not be kept out; so a court-martial +was held, and Tricky was sentenced +to be given away.</p> + +<p>But by this time the whole place +knew Tricky, and no one would have +him. Such an unusual refusal of a +present was never known before. Even +the run-away slave smiled sweetly when +his old friend was offered to him, and +protested that, to his deep regret, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +was unable to buy nuts enough to +keep him.</p> + +<p>The idea of 'wandering' Tricky in +the woods, of course, occurred to the +genius of the village, and a detachment +of boys set off one Saturday to carry +it into effect. But you might as well +have tried to wander a carrier pigeon. +Like Mary's little lamb, everywhere +these boys went, that monkey went. +When they ran, it ran, when they +doubled back, it doubled back; and +when they got home, dead tired, it was +only to find Tricky laughing at them +from the church roof.</p> + +<p>That night the worst happened. +When the people assembled for the +weekly meeting, there was not found +in that church one whole hymn-book. +Some one, apparently, had been pelting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +the pulpit with them. The cushions +were torn; the blinds were a wreck; +two stops in the harmonium were pulled +out bodily. After the service the +missionary was solemnly waited on by a +deputation. They were closeted for an +hour and a half, but no one, except +themselves, ever knew what was said +or done. The only circumstances that +one could in any way connect with +this mysterious council was that about +midnight a small boat was seen stealthily +putting out to sea. It contained two +figures—one, who rowed, was the senior +elder; the other, who sat in the stern, +looked like a very small boy.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER II</h2> + + +<p>The day was not yet broken when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +'watch' of the ship <i>Vulcan</i>, lying becalmed +off the —— coast, was roused +by a peculiar noise aft. Going to the +spot he was surprised to find a much-bedraggled +monkey rubbing itself on +a pile of sail-cloth. The creature had +evidently swum or drifted a long distance, +and was now endeavouring to +restore circulation. Jerry, being a +humane man, got it some biscuit, and +a saucer of grog, and waited developments. +These were not slow to show +themselves; within twenty-four hours +the commander of the ship <i>Vulcan</i>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +740 tons register, was a monkey named +Tricky.</p> + +<p>Time would fail me to tell of the life +that monkey led them all on board +the <i>Vulcan</i>. After the first week only +two things lay between him and death +at any moment. One was his inventiveness. +Tricky's wickedness was +nothing, if not original. Every day +he was at some new villainy; and anything +<i>new</i> on board ship is sacred. +There is no <i>Punch</i> published on board +ship; but Tricky was all the comic +papers rolled into one. But that was +not the main reason. There is a good +deal of quiet quarrelling on board ship. +The mate spared Tricky because he +thought he would some day give the +Captain a 'turn'; the Captain let him +live, hoping he would do something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +dreadful to the mate. Everybody +waited to see Tricky do something +to somebody else. So he rose to the +highest rank in the merchant-marine, +and was respected almost to idolatry +by all on board the <i>Vulcan</i>.</p> + +<p>One day Tricky was hanged—formally, +deliberately, and judicially +hanged. What had he done? He +had killed the ship cat. It was a +deliberate murder, with no extenuating +circumstances, and a rope, with a noose, +was swung over the yard-arm, and +Tricky run up in the presence of all the +crew. This happened about eight bells, +and at dusk Tricky was still hanging +there, very quiet and motionless. Next +morning Tricky was still there—as live +as you are. Tricky was not hanged, +he was only hanging; and, as everybody +knows, monkeys rather like +hanging. In fact, though Tricky was +still up there, he had got his hands +well round the rope, and was on the +whole fairly at home. The rope round +a neck like Tricky's was a mere +boa.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 295px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i013" id="i013"></a><img src="images/i013.jpg" width="295" height="551" alt="NEXT MORNING TRICKY WAS STILL THERE" title="" /> +<span class="caption">NEXT MORNING TRICKY WAS STILL THERE</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + +<p>The executioners were rather ashamed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +of themselves when they saw how +matters stood; but instead of softening +them, this dangling mockery of a dead +monkey still further roused their wrath, +and the boatswain was told off to end +the drama by tossing Tricky into the +sea. The boatswain was up the shrouds +in a moment, and loosening the rope +with one hand, and catching the monkey +by the tail with the other, he swung +poor Tricky a good yard over the +ship's side into the Atlantic.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the boatswain descended upon +the deck he was greeted with a sudden +deluge of rain. It was only Tricky +shaking the salt-water off. The monkey +had climbed up the stern rope, and +reached the deck before him. What +would have happened next is hard to +predict, but at this point the Captain, +attracted by the scream of laughter +which greeted the drenching of the +boatswain, came up and was told the +sequel to the hanging. Now the +Captain was a blunt, good-natured +man, and he avowed that neither man +nor monkey who had ever been hanged +on board his ship should ever be put +to death again. This was the law on +shore, he said, and he would see fair-play. +So Tricky received another +lease of life, and thus the ship <i>Vulcan</i> +was kept in hot water for two months +more.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 307px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i017" id="i017"></a><img src="images/i017.jpg" width="307" height="551" alt="IT WAS ONLY TRICKY SHAKING THE SALT-WATER OFF" title="" /> +<span class="caption">IT WAS ONLY TRICKY SHAKING THE SALT-WATER OFF</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + +<p>About the end of that period there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +came a crisis. The ship was nearing +port, and a heavy cleaning was in +progress. Among other things the +ship's boats had to be painted. In an +evil hour one of the men went below +to dinner, and left his paint-pot standing +on the deck. If Tricky had lost +such a chance he would not have been +a monkey at all. Needless to say he +rose to the occasion. That his supreme +hour was come was quite evident from +the way he set to work at once. He +began with the parrot, which he painted +vermilion; then he passed the brush +gaily along the newly varnished wood-work—daubed +the masts and shrouds +all over, obliterated the name on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +life-buoys, and wound up a somewhat +successful performance by emptying +the pot over the Captain's best coat, +which was laid in the sun to get the +creases out.</p> + +<p>I draw a veil over what happened +on the <i>Vulcan</i> during the next quarter +of an hour. There was never such a +muster of the crew since they left port: +Everybody seemed to have business on +deck. When the Captain came up +you could have heard a pin drop. I +shall not repeat his language, nor try +to compare with anything earthly the +voice with which he ordered every +man below. All I will record is—and +it is to his everlasting honour—that +in that awful hour the Captain was +true to his vow. 'Do you see land?' +he roared to the steersman. 'Aye, +aye, sir,' said the man, 'land on the +larboard bow.' 'Then,' said the Captain, +'put her head to it.'</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 339px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i021" id="i021"></a><img src="images/i021.jpg" width="339" height="551" alt="HE BEGAN WITH THE PARROT" title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE BEGAN WITH THE PARROT</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + + +<p>That night, late, the ship stood close<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +in to a small island on the north coast +of Scotland, and a boat was solemnly +sent ashore, and after that Tricky +was no more seen by any of the crew +of the <i>Vulcan</i>.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER III</h2> + + +<p>The island on which the Captain of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +<i>Vulcan</i> exiled Tricky was marked on +the chart 'uninhabited.' But the chart +was wrong. Ten years before, a shepherd +had come there, and now lived +with his wife and family near the +top of the great sea-cliff. You may +judge of the sensation when a real live +monkey appeared in the early morning +in this remote and lonely spot. The +shepherd was watching his sheep when +the apparition rose, as it were, from +the ground. He had never seen +a monkey before, any more than +the sheep; and sheep and shepherd +bolted like wildfire. Tricky, of course, +followed the biped, for he had always +been accustomed to human society; and, +as the shepherd fled towards the hut, +he saw the monkey close at his heels. +So he made a rush at the open door, +and pulled it after him with a bang +which almost brought down the house.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 312px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i025" id="i025"></a><img src="images/i025.jpg" width="312" height="551" alt="THE SHEPHERD BOLTED LIKE WILDFIRE" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE SHEPHERD BOLTED LIKE WILDFIRE</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + + +<p style="margin-bottom: 1.5em;">The fugitive had just got inside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +when, in a moment, he felt himself +seized from behind. It seemed as if +a powerful hand was dragging him +backward, and he threw himself down +on the ground, and roared with fear. +What had happened was that the flying +end of his plaid had got jammed in the +door, but he felt sure the evil spirit was +holding him in its clutches, and it was +some time before his startled wife could +convince him that there was nothing +there. The good woman gathered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +him up, and soothed him; and as soon +as he could speak he told her in a +shivering voice about the awful monster +which had come to slay them all. He +had scarcely got out the word 'monster,' +when there was a scurrying in the +chimney, and the monster presented +himself before them, and calmly sat +down on the meal-barrel. 'It's just +a puggy!' cried the shepherd's wife +(she had been to Inverness), and began +to stroke Tricky on the back. As +she did so, she noticed that the creature +had a strand of an old ship's rope round +its neck, and to this was attached a +small piece of paper. She opened it +and read four words, scrawled in a +hasty hand:—</p> + +<div class="center"> +<span class="smcap">'Won't Hang.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Won't Drown.'</span></span><br /> +</div> + +<p style="margin-top: 1.5em;">The shepherd seemed more frightened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +than ever at this revelation. 'Won't +hang, won't drown,' he muttered. +'Then, we'll see if it won't <i>shoot</i>,' +and he reached over the fireplace for +the gun which he killed the rabbits with. +As he loaded it it seemed to the shepherd's +wife as if all the powder and +shot in the house was being poured +into the barrel. She pleaded with her +husband to spare Tricky's life, and it +almost looked as if she had succeeded, +for the shepherd lowered the gun from +his shoulder and stood for a moment +as if in doubt. But it was not because +of his wife he stopped. It was partly +because he was quite too shaky to aim +straight; and partly because he was +too much of a sportsman to shoot offhand +a thing which was sitting quiet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +and still on his own meal-barrel; but +the main reason was that he was afraid +to shoot the baby, whose crib was just +beside it. So he gave the meal-barrel +a kick with his foot to dislodge the +monkey. He thought it would make for +the door, and there, in the open air, +he would shoot it fair and square.</p> + +<p>But the monkey had other views. +What it wanted was something to eat; +and the children's porridge being handy, +it put its paw in and began breakfast. +The shepherd was too much petrified +to interfere, and it was only when +Tricky next spilt the milk-jug over +the baby that he roused himself to do +his duty to his family. He raised the +gun once more, and, watching his chance +when Tricky was exactly opposite the +door, aimed straight at its heart, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +pulled the trigger. Now, the next +moment that monkey ought to have +been scattered all over the hillside in +multitudinous fragments. On the contrary, +it was up on the table, imitating +the click of the gun with a spoon. +Not that the shepherd missed. For +the first time in its life the rusty lock +had 'struck,' and the dazed shepherd +was more than ever confirmed in his +belief that the monkey was a witch.</p> + +<p>'Won't shoot,' he muttered to himself, +'won't hang, won't drown. I +have tried the first; I'll prove the +next.' So, as he was too superstitious +to try to shoot it again, he went out +to hang the monkey.</p> + +<p>But there was no tree on the island. +All day the shepherd searched for a +place to hang Tricky, but in vain.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +That night he lay thinking, hour after +hour, where he would hang it, and in +the early morning an inspiration came +to him—he would try the pump! So +he rose softly and fixed the handle of +the pump high in the air, so that it +stuck out like a gallows, and tied a +rope with a noose to the end of it. +Then he got Tricky to perch on the +top of the pump, tied the rope round +his neck, and all was ready. The +shepherd had heard that the object +of hanging was to break the neck of +the criminal by a sudden 'drop,' but +as he could not give Tricky a long +enough drop he determined to make +up for it in another way. So he +gathered all his strength, and with +a tremendous sweep of his arms sent +Tricky flying into space. Of course +you know what happened. The rope—it +was quite rotten—broke, and +Tricky landed on his four paws, and +stood grinning at his executioner, as +if he would like it all over again.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 301px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i033" id="i033"></a><img src="images/i033.jpg" width="301" height="551" alt="ALL WAS READY" title="" /> +<span class="caption">ALL WAS READY</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + + +<p>That whole day the sheep and lambs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +on the Island of —— were neglected. +All day long you might have seen +the shepherd sitting by the marsh-side +plaiting something with his fingers. +Round him, the ground was strewn +with rushes, some loose, and some in +bundles, but for every one the workman +chose he threw away a hundred, +because it was not tough and strong. +And as he plaited, and twisted, and +knotted, and tested, there was fire in +the shepherd's eye, and thunder all +over his face.</p> + +<p>At daybreak next morning the shep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>herd +and the monkey once more formed +in procession and wended their way to +the old pump. The new rope could +hang an elephant. It was thick as a +boa-constrictor, and the shepherd took +a full hour to adjust the noose and get +the gallows into working order. Then +the fatal moment came. With a +mightier shove than before the monkey +was launched into the air, and the rope +stiffened and held like a ship's hawser. +But the executioner had not calculated +everything. The rope and the 'drop' +were all right, but when the gallows +felt the shock, the pump-handle cracked +off like a match, and the old moss-covered +tube gave two rocks and reeled +from its moorings, and lay split in +pieces on the ground. Jagged and +needlelike splinters at the same moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +scraped and pierced and gouged at the +shepherd's shins, and tore his nether +garments, and made him dance with +pain and rage. If anything could have +added more agony to the next few +minutes it was the sight of Tricky. +That ever gay animal was careering +down the hill straight towards the +feeding sheep. The pump-handle was +still tied to its neck, and it clattered +over the stones with a noise weird +enough to drive the whole flock into +the sea. The shepherd knew there +must be a catastrophe, but he was +powerless to avert it. He was too sore +to follow, so he slowly limped towards +the hut, to nurse his wrath and his +wounds.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER IV</h2> + + +<p>For three days after the monkey had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +been 'hanged' it did not come near +the shepherd or his house. A monkey +has feelings. To be nearly hanged is +bad enough, but to have a boa-constrictor +and a pump-handle tied to +your neck is more than any self-respecting +animal would stand. So +Tricky devoted himself exclusively to +the sheep. For the space of three +days, with the invaluable aid of the +pump-handle, Tricky shepherded that +flock. Not a blade of grass was nibbled +during this period; one prolonged +stampede was kept up night and day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +The lambs dropped with hunger. The +old sheep tottered with fatigue. The +whole flock was demoralised. In fact, +when the 'Reign of Terror' closed +there was not a pound of sound mutton +left on the island.</p> + +<p>Why did not the shepherd interfere? +Because, as we shall see, for these three +days he had more urgent work to do. +When the shepherd's wife went out to +the pump that morning for water to +make the porridge with, she found it +a heap of ruins. She came back and +broke the tidings to the shepherd, and +said she believed it had been struck +with lightning. The shepherd discreetly +said nothing, but presently stole +sullenly out to inspect the damage once +more. It was worse than he thought. +A pump must hold in both air and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +water; this pump was rent and split +in a dozen places. There was no water +either to drink or make the porridge +with, till the tube was mended. So +all that day the shepherd was splicing, +and hammering, and gluing, and +bandaging. All the next day he was +doing the same. He got nothing to +eat or drink; nobody got anything to +eat or drink. The poor children were +kept alive on a single bowlful, which +happened to be in the house, but this +was now finished, and they were crying +out from want. Positively, if this +drought and famine had been kept up +for a few days more the island would +certainly have been restored to the +condition described on the chart—'uninhabited.'</p> + +<p>On the morning of the fourth day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +the pump stood erect, and wind and +water-tight once more. Only one +thing was wanting—there was no +handle. The only thing left was to +try to catch Tricky, for there was +nothing else on the island which would +make a handle. But just then Tricky +required no catching. At that moment +he was sitting on the doorstep contemplating +the group round the pump. +Everybody being out, he had seized +the opportunity to have a good breakfast—consisting +of every particle of +meal in the barrel—and was now +enjoying a period of repose before +recommencing hostilities. The shepherd +made a rush at him, but, alas, +what he wanted was no longer there. +A piece of frayed rope dangled on its +neck, but the pump-handle was gone.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>It took two days more to find it. +Every inch of the island was patiently +examined. Even the child next the +baby had to join in the search. Night +and day they were all at it; and at last +it was found by the shepherd's wife—stuck +in a rabbit-hole. All this time +no one had leisure to kill Tricky. +But on the seventh day the shepherd +rose with murder written on his brow. +The monkey would not shoot, and he +would not hang; it remained to try +what drowning would do. So he tied +a large stone round the monkey's neck, +and led him forth to the edge of the +great sea-cliff.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 289px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i043" id="i043"></a><img src="images/i043.jpg" width="289" height="551" alt="HE TOOK MONKEY AND STONE AND HEAVED THEM +OVER THE CLIFF" title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE TOOK MONKEY AND STONE AND HEAVED THEM +OVER THE CLIFF</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + +<p>A hundred feet below, the sea lay<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +like a mirror; and the shepherd, as he +looked over for a deep place, saw the +great fronds of the sea-weeds and the +jelly-fish and the anemones lying motionless +in the crystal waters. Then he +took the monkey and the stone in his +great hands, examined the knots hastily, +and, with one sudden swing, heaved +them over the cliff.</p> + +<p>The shepherd would much rather +at this point have retired from the +scene. But he dared not. He could +not trust that monkey. An actual +certificate of death was due to himself +and to his family. So he peered over +the cliff and saw the splash in the sea, +and watched the ripples clearing off +till the sea-bottom stood out again with +every shell distinct. And there, sure +enough, was Tricky, down among the +star-fish, safely moored to his gravestone, +and the yard of good rope holding +like a chain-cable. The shepherd rose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +for the first time since that monkey set +foot upon the island and breathed +freely. Then he slowly went back to +the house and told the tale of the end +of Tricky.</p> + +<p>It was not till midnight that Tricky +came back. Of course you knew +Tricky would come back. You knew +the rope would slip over the stone, +or break, or be eaten through by a +great fish, or something, and, though +none of these things happened, it is +certainly true that that night at midnight +Tricky did turn up. Perhaps I +should say turn down, for he came in, +as usual, by the chimney. But the +exact way in which this singular creature +escaped from its watery grave must be +reserved for another chapter.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p>If the shepherd had stood looking over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +the cliff for one moment longer he +would have witnessed a curious scene. +Every schoolboy knows that a stone +is lighter in water than in air. How +the monkey knew this, or whether he +did or did not, it is impossible to say, +but his actions were certainly those +of a philosopher. For, instead of +resigning himself to his fate, he bent +down and grasped the stone which +held him to his watery grave, picked +it up in his arms, and walked calmly +along the bottom towards the shore. +With a supreme effort he next got the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +stone edged on to a half-submerged +ledge; but now that it was half out +of the water it was once more too +heavy to lift, and Tricky lay in great +perplexity in the shallow water, wondering +how ever he was to get out of +this fresh dilemma. There appeared +nothing for it but to attack the rope +with his teeth, and for an hour Tricky +worked at the tough strands, but without +almost any success. After another +hour's work the monkey made an +appalling discovery. When he began +work, the water was only up to his +knees; and to his consternation, it now +covered him up to his middle. In a +short time more it came up to his neck, +and it was clear to Tricky that if the +ledge went on sinking at this rate he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>was a dead monkey. Tricky thought +he knew all about the sea, but in the +foreign sea, where he had lived with +the missionary, there were no tides, and +this creeping in of the water greatly +disturbed his peace of mind. To his +great joy, however, he found that the +stone, now wholly covered with water, +was once more light enough to lift, +and he trundled it along the ledge till +the water became too shallow to move +it further. Just above this point was +another ledge, high and dry above +tide-mark, and the yard of rope was +just long enough to allow the monkey +to take up his position there, and shake +himself dry in the sun.</p> + +<p>Now, this shaking process suggested +an idea to Tricky—a very obvious one +to you or me, but a real inspiration to +a monkey. Tricky noticed that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +very part of the rope where he had +been gnawing rested against the sharp +edge of the rocky ledge, and that one +frayed strand had suddenly parted while +he was shaking himself. The rock-edge, +in fact, was a regular knife, and +after much and hard rubbing, and many +rests, Tricky found himself within three +or four strands of freedom. It was +all but midnight when the last strand +parted, and in a few minutes more the +gallant monkey crawled up the cliff +and stood once more at the door of +his executioner's house.</p> + +<p>I am afraid you will be as much surprised +as Tricky was at the startling +discovery he made when he got there. +The cottage was on fire! For days, +you will remember, there had been +no food in the shepherd's home. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +that day the family had celebrated the +mending of the pump by a great banquet +and a washing. Such a fire was +lit as had not blazed on the hearth +for years, and when it grew dark +the red sparks flew into the air and +fell in dangerous showers upon the +dry thatched roof. The wind, too, +rose about nightfall, and fanned one +smouldering square of turf into life; and +when Tricky reached the spot at least +half the roof was already in a blaze. +But Tricky was hungry after his day's +adventures, and the chimney end of +the roof being still untouched by the +fire, he jumped on to the roof and down +into the kitchen with a bound. The +baby's cradle lay, as usual, close to the +side of the fire, and the monkey, in +passing, must have swished it with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +his tail, for the infant broke into a +sudden yell, which rang through the +room, and woke the shepherd with a +start. The good man was awake not +a moment too soon. Had the monkey +arrived five minutes later the whole +family must have perished; the smoke +had already filled the other room, and +was pouring in, in rolling clouds, below +the kitchen door. With one thunderstruck +glare at the night-watchman who +had wakened him so opportunely—and +who now occupied his usual throne on +the meal-barrel, violently sneezing out +smoke, and wondering whether it was +not better to be drowned—the shepherd +rushed towards the door to save the +two elder children who lay locked in +slumber in the burning room beyond. +Seizing them in his arms, he bore them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +safely to the open air, and then returned +for his wife and the other children. +Tricky followed at their heels; and the +next moment the rescued family stood +in a shivering group, helplessly watching +the flames. The roof soon fell in, and +in the morning all that remained of the +shepherd's house was a few charred +rafters.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p>On the spot where the shepherd's +cottage was burned now stands a noble +lighthouse. It was put up a few months +after the fire, and one of the three lighthouse-keepers +is the shepherd. The +second is a man who is fond of telling +tales of the sea, and how he was once +mate of a ship called the <i>Vulcan</i>. The +third keeper of the lighthouse is a +quadruped called Tricky. The affec<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>tion +between him and the ex-shepherd +is peculiar. Other people think there +is some history connected with it, but +the shepherd never says much. When +asked if it is really true that the +monkey cannot be killed, he always +replies, 'Yes; but that is not why it +is alive.' Only on one occasion was +the shepherd known to add anything +to that remark. It was one night when +Tricky had held back the baby—it had +just learned to creep—from tumbling +over the cliff. Then the shepherd +smiled as he threw Tricky a whole +bagful of nuts, and said, 'That monkey +won't kill—nor let anybody else kill.'</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 309px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i055" id="i055"></a><img src="images/i055.jpg" width="309" height="551" alt="TRICKY HELD BACK THE BABY" title="" /> +<span class="caption">TRICKY HELD BACK THE BABY</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> + +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<hr /> + +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></div> +<h1>GUM</h1> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></div> + +<hr style="margin-bottom: 5em;" /> +<h2 class="chapter"><a name="gum" id="gum"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + + +<p>I suppose you thought the monkey I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +told you about before was dead. But +my opinion is that he is still alive. At +least, I am pretty sure it is the same +monkey that I have now to tell you +about, though I cannot be quite sure. +In the first place this new monkey was +very like Tricky, and in the second +place it was a monkey that <i>would not +kill</i>. Now, I never heard before of +any monkey that would not kill except +one, and that was Tricky.</p> + +<p>Another thing that makes me think +it is the same monkey, is that Tricky +disappeared from the island where we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +saw him last. No one knows how it +happened, but there was a coincidence +about the time which I must relate. +One morning a boat's crew landed on +the island where Tricky lived with +the lighthouse-keeper, to fill their +water-kegs. The lighthouse-keeper +was kind to them, for they were +foreigners, and showed them all over +the lighthouse, and when they got to +the very top they found the monkey +dusting the lamps just like a human +being. The sailors were much astonished, +and one of them, who could +speak a little English, wanted to buy +Tricky for two pounds. When the +lighthouse-keeper heard this he was +very angry, and ordered them all down +the ladder. This made the men angry +in turn, for they did not know the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +reason why the lighthouse-keeper loved +the monkey, and they told him they +would not forget the way he had +insulted them. Of course he had not +insulted them at all, but foreign sailors +are sometimes quick-tempered, and +these men came from a country where +slights are easily felt. The sailors +spent the whole day on shore, as the +wind was unfavourable for getting out +to sea, but no one saw them enter the +lighthouse again. Next morning, all +that the lighthouse-keeper saw of the +sailors and their ship was the tips of +their top-gallants dipping over the +horizon edge. And all that he saw of +the monkey that—would—not—kill, +after searching night and day for a +week was—nothing.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER II</h2> + + +<p>Mr. Donald MacAlsh, gold-miner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +from Silver Creek, California, happening +to be in San Francisco, read one morning +the following paragraph in the <i>San +Francisco Herald</i>:—</p> + + +<div class="blockquote">'<span class="smcap">Curious Tale of The Sea.</span>—Captain +J. E. Dawkins of the <i>Mermaid</i>, which has +just arrived in this port from Liverpool, +reports a singular occurrence. About ten +days' out from home the look-out observed +what he took to be a great sea-serpent, but +which, on further inspection, turned out to +be a quantity of wreckage. On approaching +the spot the figure of a boy was distinctly +observed clinging to the broken portion of a +mast, and obviously still alive. A small +boat was instantly lowered, the ship's crew +meantime making signals to the boy to +inform him that he was being rescued. +After a suspense of some half-hour the boat +returned with the extraordinary intelligence +that the figure seen was not that of a boy, +but of a monkey. Search among the +wreckage for human remains proved unavailing, +and it is feared that a serious +catastrophe has occurred. The only clue to +the nationality of the vessel, which, it is +only too plain, has met with a disastrous +fate, are the letters "vorni" on a portion of +what had evidently formed the bow of one +of the life-boats. Possibly these letters are +part of "Livorni," the Italian word for Leghorn, +and the list of recent sailings from +that port is now being scrutinised with some +anxiety.'</div> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 303px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i063" id="i063"></a><img src="images/i063.jpg" width="303" height="551" alt="THE MONKEY'S RESCUE" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE MONKEY'S RESCUE</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + +<p>Now what interested Donald—'Big<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +Donald,' he was always called—in this +story was not the monkey, but the +arrival of the <i>Mermaid</i>. For the +Captain was a friend of his, and was +bringing him some tools from home in +this very ship. Though 'Big Donald' +was now a gold-miner, he came out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +from Scotland when quite a lad. His +father was a small farmer in Skye, and, +dying early, the family emigrated to +America. As it was to get these tools +that Donald came in to San Francisco +he soon found his way to the harbour, +and, finding out the <i>Mermaid</i>, walked +on board. No one was visible on deck, +so Donald sat down on a coil of rope +to wait. He had not been there three +minutes when a matted head and two +very brilliant eyes suddenly shot up the +companion, and a full-grown monkey +sprang in front of him and stared into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +his face. Donald, much startled by +this apparition, called out in a loud +voice for the creature to go away; but +the moment the words were spoken the +monkey sprang on his back and clasped +its long hairy arms about his neck. +The miner shook it off in terror and +tried to run ashore, but the monkey +followed, frisking and gambolling round +him, and chasing him all over the quay. +Donald soon discovered, however, that +the monkey meant no harm, and a few +days later an explanation of this sudden +outburst of interest in a stranger—the +Captain told Donald that the monkey +had never been known to behave like +this before—broke in upon the miner's +mind. He remembered that when he +suddenly spoke to the monkey he had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>called to it <i>in Gaelic</i>. Under the +impulse of a sudden fear, I suppose, the +language of his boyhood had started to +his lips, and the words came out unconsciously +'<i>Imich air falbh</i>,' which means +'Go away.' What made Donald remember +the circumstance was this, that +whenever afterwards he used the Highland +tongue the monkey manifested +peculiar signs of joy. The only way +the miner could account for this +singular fact was to suppose that somehow +or other this monkey had once +belonged to some one who used the +Gaelic language—a suggestion, however, +which people generally laughed +at. The miner always maintained, +nevertheless, that the monkey really +knew Gaelic, and he seldom spoke +to it in any other language. Of +course, people said this was simply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +to show off that he knew two +languages.</p> + +<p>I do not know whether the miner +bought the monkey, or whether the +Captain gave it to him, or whether it +ran away, but it is certain that from +this hour it belonged to Donald. +When he left the ship with his tools, +the monkey followed, trotting after him +like a dog all the way till he reached +his lodgings. The miner then went +into the house and shut the door, +leaving the monkey outside. In ten +minutes it seemed as if all the boys in +San Francisco had gathered in that +street. They formed a crowd round +the door which almost stopped the +traffic; and when the policeman shortly +appeared he was rather disgusted to +find that it was only a monkey perform<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>ing +gymnastic exercises on a door-knocker. +Roughly ringing the bell, he +ordered Donald to take in his monkey. +Donald replied meekly that he was not +responsible for the monkey, but the +officer said he would be summoned +for 'obstructing the thoroughfare and +causing a breach of the peace' if he +did not take in his guest at once. So +Donald had to submit, for he saw there +would be no rest in San Francisco till +this wayward creature had its will and +was safe inside. That night Donald +had a serious talk with the monkey as +it sat upright in its chair at supper. +He told it that if it would behave itself +he would take it up to the Rocky +Mountains to the gold diggings. The +monkey seemed to understand, for it +put down a lump of cheese it was about +to eat, skipped off its chair, and nestled +against Big Donald's side. Only one +other thing happened that night: +Donald gave the monkey its name. +He called it 'Gum'—because it stuck +to him.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 300px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i071" id="i071"></a><img src="images/i071.jpg" width="300" height="551" alt="A MONKEY PERFORMING GYMNASTIC EXERCISES" title="" /> +<span class="caption">A MONKEY PERFORMING GYMNASTIC EXERCISES</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></div> + + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER III</h2> + + +<p>Next morning Donald and Gum<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +started from San Francisco by an early +train on their way to Silver Creek. +The appearance of the monkey in the +railway carriage created much amusement +among the passengers, and +Donald had to stand a running-fire of +questions as to whether it belonged to +his great-grandfather or to a barrel-organ. +The fun was stopped in a little +while by the entrance of the conductor, +who demanded Gum's ticket. Gum +not having a ticket, an angry discussion +arose on the subject of fare; but +Donald said he would only pay when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +the conductor showed him the correct +price for a monkey printed in black and +white in the official books. There +being no special mention in these +volumes of monkeys on tour, Donald +declined to pay a cent, and the +conductor departed, vowing he would +put Gum out of the train at the next +station. When the next station came, +however, Donald and the monkey were +entrenched in a corner, the latter +tightly grasped in the miner's great +arms, and the conductor, after a glance +at the situation, decided to wait for a +more convenient season. In America +the conductor, instead of entering the +carriages only when the train stops, +moves about all the time from one +carriage to another, so that as the +station for Silver Creek was still eleven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +hours' distant, he had little doubt his +chance would come.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 313px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i077" id="i077"></a><img src="images/i077.jpg" width="313" height="551" alt="BURIED HIS TEETH IN THE CONDUCTOR'S WRIST" title="" /> +<span class="caption">BURIED HIS TEETH IN THE CONDUCTOR'S WRIST</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + +<p>And come it did. It was a piping +hot day, even for California, and late +in the afternoon Donald fell asleep. +His arms were still clasped round the +monkey, and the conductor would +never have succeeded in his object but +for an accident. It happened that +about that time the train was approaching +an important junction, and part of +every ticket had to be given up at that +point. In America a railway ticket is +sometimes half a yard in length, and +pieces have to be torn off from point +to point. To avoid the disturbance +caused by this operation, miners, cowboys, +and others are in the habit of +wearing their tickets slipped into the +band of their great wide-awake hats, +and Donald was in this inviting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +position when the conductor came +round. He snatched it out of the hat +to tear off the necessary piece, when +the monkey, thinking a theft was +meant, sprang at the man and buried +his teeth in his wrist. Roaring with +pain, the conductor seized his assailant +by the throat, and, before Donald could +come to the rescue, tossed him out of +the window. The train was dashing +round a curve at thirty miles an hour, +and when Donald stretched out his +neck to find out whether Gum was +killed, it was with small hope of ever +seeing him more. For two minutes the +miner gazed at the receding distance, +then, without uttering a word, turned +round and felled the conductor to the +floor.</p> + + + + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER IV</h2> + + +<p>When the train rolled into the junction,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +about an hour after, Donald went into +the refreshment room to quiet his +nerves with a cup of cocoa. He was +about to take his seat again in the +carriage when he observed a crowd on +the platform opposite the brake-van at +the rear end of the train. Making his +way to the spot and looking over the +heads of the crowd, what was his +amazement to see Gum seated on the +coupling apparatus, and looking about +him with perfect serenity. One hand +held an iron rod, and with the other he +scratched his head; and, but for a great +splash of brown earth on one side, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +monkey seemed wholly untouched by +his adventure. A single word in +Gaelic from Donald made the monkey +spring from its perch, and over the +heads of the people into his arms, and +in a few minutes the strange friends +were pursuing their journey again, as +if nothing had happened. A new +conductor was now on the train, and +Donald made friends with him by +reciting the whole adventure, so that +they were allowed to end the day in +peace. About midnight the two got +out at a roadside station, where they +spent the night, and in the grey of the +morning set out by coach for Silver +Creek. From Silver Creek Donald's +cabin was still thirty miles' walk over +the mountains, and after another day's +hard toiling they reached the spot.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p>After a long journey over the mountains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +Donald reached his log cabin on +the Silver Creek. The monkey, however, +did not find quite so immediate a +welcome as himself from Donald's wife. +The only pet her children had ever +seen before was a baby puma, which the +miner had picked out of the stream one +day in a half-drowned state. Donald +had mistaken it for a kitten of some +new brand, and it was not until some +weeks later, when it sprang upon his +little girl and buried his claws in her +neck, that he realised what sort of +plaything—the puma is the lion of +the Rocky Mountains—he had intro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>duced +into his family. So Donald's +wife was suspicious of pets, and when +she saw the monkey she was sure it was +another lion, and would not allow it to +enter the door. But Gum had other +ways of entering houses than by doors, +and finally he was received as a lawful +member of the family, for the simple +reason that he could not be kept out. +The new guest gave little trouble. +Most of the day the monkey spent with +Donald at the mine. He went off with +him when he went to work in the morning, +and gambolled round him till he +came home for supper. And very soon +an incident happened which more than +reconciled Donald's wife to her strange +visitor. Donald's gold-mine was a poor +one. He had to work very hard to get +enough of the precious dust to keep his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +family in food, but his spirits were kept +up by the constant hope that he would +strike a richer bed and make his fortune. +The way he got the gold was to take +the sand and gravel from the banks of +the river and wash it about in a pan till +all the lighter particles passed off with +the water, leaving the little spangles of +gold at the bottom. Sometimes a week +would pass without the miner getting +more than a thimbleful, but occasionally +he would find a few lumps as big as a +pea. One day, however, just as Donald +was getting discouraged, a piece of great +good-luck befell him. He had been +particularly depressed that day, for no +gold at all had rewarded his search for +a week, and the family were already in +debt for flour and clothes. But, thanks +to the monkey, he was able to go home +to his wife with the largest gold nugget +that had been seen in that valley for +many years. Gum had been skirmishing +about as usual on the gravel +heaps, when some loose pebbles were +dislodged by his paws, and, as they +rolled down, he must have been attracted +by the yellow glitter in one +large lump, for the next moment he had +picked up the nugget and laid it, with a +wag of his tail, at Donald's feet. The +miner almost wept for gladness, and, +taking Gum up in his arms as if he were +a child, hurried home to proclaim his +fortune. That night the family had a +great feast, and Gum's health was drunk +in the strongest tea the mining camp +could furnish. Perhaps if they had +known what was shortly to happen they +would not have slept quite so soundly.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 292px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i085" id="i085"></a><img src="images/i085.jpg" width="292" height="551" alt="THE NUGGET OF GOLD" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE NUGGET OF GOLD</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></div> + + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER VI</h2> + + +<p>Two nights after the wheel of fortune<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +gave an unlooked-for turn. Donald's +wife was so proud of the nugget that +she could not keep the news to herself, +and, next morning, although Donald +had carefully told her to keep it quiet, +confided his good-luck to another +miner's wife, who lived a few hundred +yards off. This worthy woman told +another, and in twenty-four hours the +fame of Donald's nugget was spread +from end to end of the valley. This +would not have mattered in most places, +but mining districts are peopled by +criminals and adventurers of all kinds, +and among these were some lawless +characters whose chief business was to +get gold in some other way than by +working for it. Two of these men, +brothers, who lived with their families +at the lower end of the valley, determined +that they should possess themselves +of Donald's nugget. Covering +their faces with black masks, and armed +with revolvers, they set off about midnight +for the miner's cabin. The family +were fast asleep, and the robbers noiselessly +pushed up the window, and +entered the room where Donald slept. +Pointing a loaded revolver at his head, +one of the men roughly awoke him, and +told him if he moved or cried out he +would blow out his brains and murder +every one in the house. Donald was +too familiar with stories of camp crime +to resist an attack so sudden, and, +though a loaded revolver was under his +own pillow, he saw his disadvantage +and, for the sake of his wife and children, +controlled himself with a great +effort.</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 307px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i089" id="i089"></a><img src="images/i089.jpg" width="307" height="551" alt="POINTING A LOADED REVOLVER AT HIS HEAD" title="" /> +<span class="caption">POINTING A LOADED REVOLVER AT HIS HEAD</span> +</div> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></div> +<p>'I want that little bit of metal of +yours,' said the robber. Donald lay +perfectly quiet. 'Do you hear!' exclaimed +the man, 'I want that gold.'</p> + +<p>'Then you won't get it,' said Donald +quietly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I believe he has sent it to the bank,' +whispered the other man. 'Kill him if +he has.'</p> + +<p>'Look here!' thundered the first, 'do +you mean to say that nugget is gone?'</p> + +<p>Donald made no reply. If he +said it was gone, the robbers would +have simply sneaked home, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +Donald was known in these parts as a +man who never told a lie. Once more +the robber asked him, but Donald +remained silent. This was enough. If +it had really been gone Donald would +have certainly said so. So, while the +first man stood with a revolver at his +ear, the second proceeded to search the +house. Drawers, boxes, and cupboards +were opened and ransacked in quick +succession; every corner of the two +rooms was examined; the very dishes +on the shelf were turned upside down, +and the sugar-basin smashed to pieces +with a blow, in case it should have been +hidden there.</p> + +<p>'Let me try,' said the man with the +revolver; 'you watch the old bear, and +see if I can't find it.'</p> + +<p>Once more the house was ransacked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +from top to bottom, and the robber was +about to abandon the search, when a +sudden thought occurred to him. On +the mantel-piece ticked a wooden +American clock, about two feet high. +The man opened the door in the case, +and fumbled about with his finger. +Next moment he had drawn out the +nugget. He bent over the fire to get a +better look at it, and then proceeded to +weigh it in the palm of his hand, to see +how much it was worth. The other +robber, unable to restrain his curiosity, +moved likewise toward the fire, when +the first checked him with an angry cry, +and sent him back to his victim's side +to continue his guard. Another moment, +and Donald would have had his +revolver out, and the nugget would have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>been saved. But there was another +spectator of this scene on whom the +thieves had scarcely reckoned. In his +usual berth, crouched at the side of the +fireplace, sat Gum. The robber was +weighing the gold in his hand, turning +it round and round, and gloating over +it, when the glitter from the precious +metal attracted the monkey's eye. It +seemed to feel some sense of property +in this gold, for, quick as lightning, one +hairy paw brushed the robber's hand, +and the next moment the nugget was +gone. With a great oath the robber +turned on Gum, and dealt it a blow on +the head which knocked it senseless to +the other side of the room. But, before +that blow fell, two things happened. +With one hand held out to protect itself +against this sudden onslaught, the monkey +made a grab at its assailant's face,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +and tore off the black mask, so that +Donald instantly recognised the man, +in the glow of the firelight; with the +other hand, which held the gold, the +monkey swiftly transferred the nugget +to its mouth.</p> + +<p>The robber's eye followed this last +movement, however, and he picked up +Gum roughly, and proceeded to wrench +open its jaws. He felt all round his +mouth, but the nugget was not there. +He held the senseless body up by the +tail and shook it, but no gold appeared. +He took his head between his knees, +and sounded all over its throat, but the +nugget was not to be found. As a +matter of fact it was not there. The blow +which had fallen upon the monkey's +head had knocked it down its throat. +Gum had swallowed the nugget!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>What was to be done now? If the +robber had had a knife in his pocket, +Gum would have been a dead monkey +in two seconds. But while he was +unsuccessfully feeling for his knife, Gum +suddenly came to, and with one violent +wriggle shook itself free, and sprang on +the highest shelf. The robber gave +chase; then followed the most comical +hunt you ever saw. The robber's face +being now exposed (he had no idea that +Donald had already recognised him), he +was afraid to turn round, and he had to +keep up the hunt without once facing in +the direction where Donald lay, with +the result that he was fairly baffled, and +after a quarter of an hour's hard work, +gave up the chase. All that remained +now was to blind Donald. Roughly +approaching the bed, the robber drew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +the blankets over Donald's face, and +told him he would shoot him if he dared +to stir. As an extra precaution, the +miner's revolver was taken out of reach, +and then both men started, with a piece +of rope, to secure the monkey. Clever +as Gum was, he was scarcely a match for +two men, who, as noted horse-thieves, +were experts in the use of the lasso, and +in a short time the monkey was ignominiously +driven from his perch on a rafter, +tied up in Donald's pillow-case, and +swung over the shoulder of one of the +men. Then the robbers wished Donald +a grim good-night, and marched off with +their 'purse.' As they were going out +of the door Donald called after them, +'Good-night, ye blackguards, and mark +my words, if ye lay a hand on that monkey +ye'll regret it as long as ye live!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +This made the men a little frightened, +for although they did not like to confess +it to one another, there was something +about Gum that was 'not canny.' Anyhow, +whether it was fear of the monkey, +or of their own consciences, instead of +killing Gum as soon as they left the +house they carried it all the way home +with them, discussing which of them +was to kill it, and how it was to be done.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER VII</h2> + + +<p>When the thieves reached home, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +a hasty breakfast, they continued the +discussion as to how the purse was to +be opened and the nugget secured. +Unfortunately for them the monkey had +struggled out of the pillow-case, as soon +as it reached the house, and the robbers' +children at once seized upon it, and +claimed it as their pet. When they +were told it would have to be killed, the +youngest child, a little girl so lovely that +even a bad father could not help loving +her, burst into tears, and, putting her +arms round the robber's neck, prayed and +entreated him to spare its life, and let her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +play with it. Now, wicked as this man +was, this child had a mysterious influence +over him, and though he was resolved +to kill Gum, and that immediately, he +determined that she should not see it +done, nor even know that he had done it. +Besides this, it would never do to let +the people in the valley know that they +had killed the monkey, for Donald +would surely go in search of it; so +after consulting together for some +time, the robbers decided on a plan +for killing Gum without anybody being +any the wiser. They knew that if +they shot it, or drowned it, or slew it +with a knife, the children would be +angry, and the story would certainly be +told to their playmates and passed on +in time to Donald's family. So a very +diabolical scheme was hatched. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +only way they could think of for killing +Gum without any one seeing, or without +either of them being actually present +at the death, was to <i>blow it up with gunpowder</i>. +This method had another advantage, +which neither of the men liked +to confess weighed with them, but in +reality it was this more than anything +else that made them think of the gunpowder. +At the bottom of their hearts +these men were cowards, and after the +strange threat which Donald had uttered +as they were leaving his house, they were +secretly afraid 'to lay a hand' upon Gum. +A monkey was a very mysterious creature. +They had never had anything to +do with one before. Gum's face had a +curious human look, and to murder it in +cold blood was almost like murdering a +man. So the gunpowder idea seemed the +very solution that was needed, and they +set about their preparations at once. +While one of the men remained at the +kitchen fire with the family to allay +suspicion, the other, after pocketing a +little can of miners' blasting-powder, a +couple of feet of fuse, and a piece of string,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103-105" id="Page_103-105">[103-105]</a></span> +strolled out to the wood behind the cabin +on the pretence of giving the monkey +a walk. As soon as a low thicket +screened the pair from view, the robber +tied the monkey to the trunk of a tree. +Then he lashed the can of gunpowder +tightly to the monkey's tail, passed one +end of the fuse into it through a small +hole, struck a match, and lighted the +other end. As soon as he saw the fuse +was fairly lit, and the red fire slowly +creeping upwards, he ran back as fast +as he could to the house. Meantime<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +the other man had got a concertina from +the shelf, and was playing with all his +might to drown the sound of the explosion. +When the executioner arrived, +out of breath though he was, he joined +noisily in the dance which the children +had set up the moment the concertina +began to play, and presently such +a stamping and shouting was going +on in the cottage that the sound of an +earthquake would have been quenched. +Suddenly an awful interruption occurred. +Through the open door the monkey +bounded in, and taking up its place in +the midst of the circle joined in the +dance. From its neck dangled a piece +of string, burnt at the point; but what +made the children shriek with laughter +was a small tin can tied to its tail, which +clattered about with every turn of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +body, and strange to say, had a sort of +little tail of its own which appeared to +be on fire, for little puffs of smoke were +coming from it, and a red colour glowed +at the tip. The moment the robbers +caught sight of this apparition there was +a yell of fear which paralysed the children +into rigid statues. The men's faces +were livid with terror, and some seconds +passed before either had recovered his +senses sufficiently to act. Then one man, +with a great sweep of his arms, caught up +all the children into one tumble bunch, +and flung them screaming with pain and +surprise under the bed of the adjoining +room. The other, who was directly responsible +for the mischief, seeing that the +only chance to save his house and himself +was to get Gum outside, clutched the +smoking monkey in his arms and rushed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +to the door. Quick as the movement +was, it was not quick enough. Those +inside heard a deafening report; the +house was filled with smoke; the doorway +became a heap of fallen timber, and +the blackened body of a man lay groaning +among the charred ruins. One of +the robbers, their wives, and all the +children were safe. But when the +smoke cleared away, and the body by +the door was examined, life was all but +extinct. For weeks the robber hung +between life and death. It forms no +part of this story to tell what pains he +suffered, or what agonies of mind he +passed through, or how, when months +after he was able to crawl from his bed +and go out into the air it was to see +never more the sunlight or the flowers +with his sightless eyes. Certainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +Donald's words had come true. When +the miner heard that evening what had +happened, although he had already sent +off word to the nearest police-station +with the names of the guilty men, he +took no further action in the matter. +God's punishment was quicker than +man's.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 292px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i103" id="i103"></a><img src="images/i103.jpg" width="292" height="551" alt="THE CAN OF GUNPOWDER TIED TO HIS TAIL" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE CAN OF GUNPOWDER TIED TO HIS TAIL</span> +</div> +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + + + +<hr /> +<h2 class="chapter">CHAPTER VIII</h2> + + +<p>Late that afternoon the monkey turned +up at his old home. Donald found him +lying at the door, an almost unrecognisable +object. Thanks to the way the +robber had carried him, one half of his +body was untouched, but the other half +was a pitiable spectacle, and the long +curly tail, Gum's great ornament and +plaything, was blown off by the root. +The poor creature had swooned, but +that he had lain there an hour or two +in great pain was plain from the way +the gravel was tossed about in all +directions round him. Donald was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +greatly touched, and lifting him up in his +arms as tenderly as if he were a child, +placed him in his own bed and dressed +his burns. After a long sleep it awoke, +and Donald, who had sat silently by his +side, bent over to allow it to lick his +face. The moment it opened its +mouth the miner sprang from his +chair as if he had been shot. For +there between his teeth the monkey +held the nugget!</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p>Five years have passed. Donald is the +richest man in Silver Creek County, and +his great mines are worked by hundreds +of men. He lives in a great house, +sumptuously furnished and full of +precious things, which he delights to +show to the many visitors who flock to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +see his mine. But of all these precious +things, by far the most precious is Gum, +the monkey without a tail, 'the finder +of his first nugget, and the founder of +his fortunes,' as he says to everybody. +Then he tells how Gum found the +nugget, and how it was stolen and once +more brought back; and how when +Gum got better, the two went back to +the spot where the big lump was found, +and searched and searched, and found +lump after lump and nugget after +nugget, until, in a few months, more +gold was hidden below Donald's bed +than had come from all the mines put +together since they first were opened. +Then the good man calls out a word in +Gaelic, and the monkey without a tail +jumps into his arms to be caressed, +and Donald asks his guests to read the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>inscription on the golden collar round +its neck:—</p> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="center"> +TO<br /> +FAITHFUL GUM<br /> +FROM<br /> +HIS GRATEFUL MASTER.<br /> +<br /> +Made out of the first nugget—August 2nd, 1888.</div> + +<div class="microspace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> +<div class="image border2" style="width: 287px; height: 551px;"> +<a name="i113" id="i113"></a><img src="images/i113.jpg" width="287" height="551" alt="THE MOST PRECIOUS OF ALL IS GUM" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE MOST PRECIOUS OF ALL IS GUM</span> +</div> +<div class="minispace"> </div> +<div class="nanospace"> </div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Monkey That Would Not Kill, by Henry Drummond + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MONKEY THAT WOULD NOT KILL *** + +***** This file should be named 29254-h.htm or 29254-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/2/5/29254/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Meredith Bach, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> |