Like shadows, the monkeys quickly gathered in a circle around him.
“Now, Billy Whiskers,” began old Blue Nose in his most dreaded tone, “will you please explain to me and my family what you mean by skipping out with no word to any of your band? While we may never have told you in so many words, you know very well what sort of punishment we reserve for a deserter. Speak!”
Although Billy was startled and had great difficulty in finding his voice, he was sharp enough to know that his fate now depended on lulling the suspicions of the monkeys. So he said:
“Colonel Mandrill, Tittlebat Titmouse and all the rest of you, I was never so glad in my life to see anyone as I am you now. I observe that you have all escaped that frightful wreck unhurt. After the collision, I was so shaken to pieces and frightened, while the din was so ear-splitting, without thinking a thing what I was doing, I started and ran. As you have seen, I stopped just as soon as I came to a safe place. Before now, if you hadn’t have come, I should be on my way back to hunt for you.”
“I hope I may be forgiven for that tale,” added Billy under his breath.
The older monkeys whispered together for a short time, evidently trying to decide whether or not this plausible story was to be believed. Although it was manifest that there was a difference of opinion, the majority were in favor of accepting the explanation as true and this decision was quickly made known, to Billy’s great relief.
“I’ve just been thinking,” then said Billy, “that we will never have a better chance to escape than now. We are not a great many miles from my dear old home at Cloverleaf Farm which I have told you about so often. I think I can find the way. If we are agreed to the plan, I will try and lead you there.”
This proposal led to another consultation, and while not very enthusiastic about it, the monkeys shortly said that they would go.
As no time was to be lost, they started north at once, keeping in the shadow of the woods.
“A nice time I’ll have introducing this crumby looking crowd to my friends at Cloverleaf,” mused Billy. “I wonder what the Coon will say,” and the very thought made him laugh.