4
But, in the course of that day, the orang-outang came to Two-Legs, who was sitting outside the house:
“Good-day, cousin,” said the orang-outang.
Two-Legs looked at him without answering.
“Ah, you may have heard,” said the orang-outang, “that I have spoken ill of you. I will not deny that I have been a little careless in my talk. But you yourself know, when one meets with poor relations, one is afraid of hangers-on. One has children of one’s own and it is not easy to make both ends meet in these hard times. Besides, you once caught me a blow with your stick; so we can cry quits.”
“What do you want?” asked Two-Legs. “I have neither time nor inclination to listen to your drivel.”
“Now don’t be hasty, cousin,” said the orang-outang and sat down beside him. “I acknowledge your success. You have been lucky. It does not enter my head to deny your ability. You have managed things splendidly. That little business with the horse was really smartly done. And, now that you have outwitted the lion....”
“What do you want, you bothersome brute?” said Two-Legs.
“I want to join forces with you, cousin,” said the orang-outang. “We two as partners ought to conquer the world.”
“Are you mad?” said Two-Legs. “What should I do with such a ridiculous, stupid beast as you? You’re no more use to me than a pigeon. Away with you! Look sharp or I’ll give you a thrashing which you won’t forget in a hurry.”
The orang-outang retreated a few paces, but did not give up the game:
“You should think it over all the same, cousin,” he said. “However clever you may be, I can be of use to you still. I should be a good intermediary between you and the animals. I can do things you can’t; and what I can’t do I can easily learn. Up in the apple-tree where I sat, I have watched you and studied the way you went about your field; and I have already picked up many of your tricks. You must know that....”
Two-Legs stood up and caught the orang-outang by the arm:
“Come outside!” he shouted into the house. “I want to show you something!”
They all came and stared at the ape.
“This fellow wants to go into partnership with me,” said Two-Legs. “He’s not fair. He says he has already learnt my tricks. Let’s put him in a cage; then we can amuse ourselves with his tricks when it’s raining.”
The orang-outang protested, but to no purpose. Two-Legs held him tight and soon they had built a cage and put him into it.
“There’s none like one’s own people for meanness!” said the orang-outang, as he sat on the floor of his cage, catching his fleas.
THERE WAS NO TIME TO LOSE
