he bolted with it up the nearest tree, where he ate it in peace, pelting his enemy with the broken shells. Then the dog would return to his master with his tail between his legs.
This was the bad side of Kees; but he had a great many very good qualities. He was an early riser, and when he was up himself he woke the dogs, who held him in great awe, and signed to them to take up their different positions about the tent, which they did without a moment's delay. Then he was devoted to his master, who gives many instances of his loyalty and affection. One day, an officer in fun pretended to strike Le Vaillant, and Kees at the sight became so violent he could hardly be restrained or pacified. The officer, who had not expected the action would make such a deep impression, tried to appease him by offers of fruit, but quite in vain. Never again would the faithful creature have anything to do with the man, and if he caught sight of him ever so far off he would cry and grind his teeth and prepare to fly at him; so that at last, during the officer's stay in the camp, it was necessary to chain him down.
Many, too, were the hardships shared by the pair of friends out hunting, and here, again, Kees' fidelity never failed. The man might sink to the ground worn out with heat and fatigue, parched with thirst, and fainting with hunger, but the monkey never left his side. If there was anywhere within reasonable distance a root or tree that would give them a little relief, Kees would scent it out. Sometimes when found it would have no stalk, so the root could not be extracted in the usual way. Then Kees began to scratch up the hard-baked earth with his claws —a painful as well as a slow process—and it was lucky that his master had a hunting-knife with which to come to the rescue. How they would both enjoy that root, when, after so many struggles, they got it at last!
How surprised a traveller would be if, in the course
