"No, give him his liberty."
"I'm going to. Poor little wretch, how he shivers! He's too much frightened to bite or do anything. Hi! old gentleman, get up there on the top."
He lifted the monkey up, and it went slowly on to the hot roof, gazing back at its captor with wondering eyes.
"Now run the boat in close to the trees," said Harry, as he patted and stroked the utterly cowed prisoner.
The next moment the open, cabin-like construction was brushing against the palm leaves with a loud, rustling sound.
This seemed to galvanize the little creature into life, and it uttered a loud chick, chick, chack!
This was answered by a chorus from above; for, unnoticed by the occupants of the boat, the trees had been in quiet motion all the while as they glided down.
That was enough; the monkey seized the twigs nearest to it and the next minute had swung itself up out of sight. There was a tremendous chattering, which grew distant as if the troop was hurrying through the trees in one direction, while the boat was gliding swiftly down in the other, and then Harry said laughingly,—
"Well; he might have been a bit more grateful; never so much as said
Thank ye."
"I think he was wonderfully grateful, for he did not bite. I say, though, how careful one has got to be about the crocodiles. I turned quite cold, for I thought we were going over."