“Get out of here!” yelled Fred. He had scarcely spoken when one of the monkeys dropped a can of beans on his toes and leaped upon the youth’s left shoulder. “Hi! Get off of there!”
But instead of getting away, the [monkey caught hold of Fred’s ear and] held tight, shrieking and chattering loudly as he did so.
In the meanwhile [two other monkeys leaped upon Andy], one on his shoulder and the other on his back, holding tight to the alarmed boy’s collar. The other simians ran back and forth, chattering most infernally. One had picked up a pan brought in from the wreckage, and this he banged upon any object that came to hand.
[A MONKEY CAUGHT HOLD OF FRED’S EAR AND TWO OTHERS LEAPED UPON ANDY.]
“For gracious’ sake! what’s that racket in camp?” exclaimed Jack, looking up suddenly.
“Hi! Hi! Come here! Some monkeys have attacked the two boys!” yelled Ira Small at the top of his lungs. And then, somewhat scared at the unexpected turn of affairs, the lanky sailor blazed away with a shotgun he was carrying.
The aim of the old tar was poor, and the shots scattered into the jungle back of the camp. But the noise had its effect, and in a twinkling all but two of the monkeys began to take their departure. But they did not go empty handed. With loose food, canned stuff and other things in their paws, they scrambled into the jungle, and, amid a wild chattering, disappeared.
“Monkeys, of all things!” burst out Randy, rushing forward beside the young major. “Who ever thought they would come to attack us!”
“They’re probably hungry, just the same as that lion was,” answered Jack. “There they go!”