“We might be worse off; and so, mates, I don’t think we’ve any cause to complain,” observed Ned Gale as he surveyed our abode.
This was a favourite expression of his; and he was always contented, whatever happened. I felt grateful; for though our prospects for the future were uncertain, we were at all events at liberty, with a fair chance of escaping our enemies. Ned Gale had a little black pipe which he prized much, and a small supply of tobacco, which he husbanded with the greatest care. He lighted his pipe, and sat over the fire enjoying his smoke in silence.
As usual, we took it by turns to watch and to keep our fire alight. Pedro and Ned Gale had been sleeping for some time, when, finding that the fire required feeding, I rose to put some more sticks upon it. As the flames burst forth more brightly than before, their light shone on the high branches of the trees, when, happening to look up, I saw just above as a face peering down from among the foliage. It seemed to be watching us very attentively; the owner fancying, probably, from his position, that he was unobserved. As he put his head more forward to get a better sight of us, I saw that he was an old black man with a white head; and immediately it struck me that he was employed as a scout to watch us by the Spaniards. My first impulse was to rouse my companions.
“Ned Gale, Ned Gale,” I sung out, “the Spaniards are after us I am afraid.”
He sprung to his feet, and looking anxiously around, grasped one of his pistols, like a man ever ready to encounter danger.
“Where are they?” he asked. “I don’t see them.”
“There, there,” I answered, pointing at the trees.
He and Pedro turned their eyes in the direction I indicated. There was now not only one negro looking at us, but several black faces, encircled with white hair, appeared among the branches. Instead of flying from our supposed enemies, they both burst into fits of laughter.
“Those Spaniards? Why, they are monkeys,” exclaimed Ned. “Ha, ha, ha! Now, if I could bring one of them down, he might serve us for dinner to-morrow.”
I could not help joining in his laughter, though I had no fancy for eating a monkey. He threw up a piece of stick with all his force. It missed its aim, and served to send the whole troop scampering away, uttering mournful howls, to a distance, where they for some time kept up a concert, which effectually banished sleep.