The two monkeys that remained were the ones that had clung fast to Fred’s ear and one of those which had fastened itself to Andy’s collar. These continued to chatter and squeak, but held fast as if seeking companionship and protection.
“Gee, do you know what I think?” declared Andy, suddenly. “This little beggar is tame. He isn’t half as wild as those others were.”
By this time the other monkey had let loose of Fred’s ear, and now sat perched on the lad’s hand, looking up into Fred’s face so comically that the youth was compelled to grin.
“If you’re going to be friendly, all right,” said the boy. “Just the same, you had me pretty well scared.” And then he stroked the monkey, and the frisky little animal seemed well content to nestle in the crook of his arm.
“I’ll wager that these two monkeys were pets of the people on board the steam yacht,” declared Jack, when the momentary excitement had come to an end and the party had made sure that all the other monkeys had disappeared. “If it wasn’t so, these fellows wouldn’t stay here a minute.”
“I guess you’re right,” answered Fred. “Just the same, what are we going to do with the two little beggars? We don’t want to feed them, and I’m certain that I don’t want to kill them.”
“We’ll have to feed them and then chase them back into the woods,” suggested Andy.
“You’ll have fine work chasin’ ’em away after you’ve fed ’em,” declared Ira Small, coming as close to grinning as the boys had ever seen. “Feed a monkey once, an’ you’ll have him around you forever. The only way to git rid of ’em is to douse ’em with cold water.”
“Oh, if they want to stay, let them,” answered Jack. “They’ll help us pass the time when we haven’t anything else to do.” The cuteness of the two little simians appealed to him, just as it did to all the other boys.