“Give me time to think a minute,” replied Billy, supposing that someone would come to his rescue when it was seen what a tight box he was in.
But the crowd only laughed, not perceiving how serious the situation really was and regarding it a great joke that the sly old monkey had succeeded in capturing so neatly the now famous goat. It happened that none of the keepers were near at the time or they would have known by past experience that Billy Whiskers was now in great danger of his life.
“I’ll give you just one minute to make up your mind whether or not you care to accept my terms,” now replied Billy’s terrible captor. “If you free us from our prison, we will make you our leader and follow you wherever you go,” went on the monkey.
“I don’t want to be your leader, dear Colonel Mandrill. I am not fitted for so distinguished an honor.”
It was all that Billy could do to make this polite speech. His voice, in spite of his best effort to control it, shook as though he were having a chill.
“You waste good time in talking such nonsense. In half a minute more you will begin to come between the bars of this cage. By the time you are all in, you’ll look as flat as a pancake for the space is narrow, but I am strong.” With that heartless remark he gave Billy’s head a jerk that seemed as though it would break his neck.
Billy Whiskers took a look at the monkey, saw that the thin gaunt arm which held him was all muscle, as strong as steel. In a flash it came to him why the old Coon who lived in the big chestnut at home held the whole monkey tribe in such dread.
“My only chance,” thought Billy, “is to break away from him, even if I lose all my whiskers in doing it.”
With that, he began to pull back with all his might, throwing his head up and down, right and left. The strain on his long beard was more painful than having teeth pulled out, but there was no help for it. He squirmed and wiggled and twisted. It all did no good. The strong hand and arm that held him never relaxed. The long, white, luxuriant beard, once Billy’s pride and joy but now his greatest enemy, did not give way.
