alf-grown baboon. It
was surly, vicious, and so strong that they could scarce master it, but
within twenty-four hours Hector had the animal subject to his will, and
now the Bushmen were neglected for this strange new companion. That he
could make himself understood to it was perfectly obvious; and they
would wander away together, grunting and clicking all the time.

"The heat all this time was terrific, and the thought often came to me
that possibly Hector had had a touch of sunstroke. Even his craze for
finding a proof of Darwin's theory could, I thought, scarcely explain
his half-mad conduct! He ate but little; his habits, once so precise,
became careless and in fact almost brutal; and his brother's pained
remonstrance with him only made matters worse. 'The Proof! the Proof!'
he would answer us, fiercely and angrily; 'I am getting nearer to it
every day. What matters what you think or care! But this one is too
young. I must have an old one. He will tell me!' John and I had serious
thoughts of taking him out of the wilderness by force; but whilst we
hesitated the end came.

"One night, after a day of terrific heat, we were lying under a thorn
tree on the hot sand, and hoping for the rain that had been threatening
but would not fall. There was a moon; but its light was fitful, and the
dark thunder-clouds occasionally obscured it. Away over the Tatas Berg
Mountains the lightning was flickering, and John and I lay watching it,
and wishing the storm would break for us too. Suddenly we heard the
bark of a baboon from a peak near us. It was answered from the other
side, and soon a harsh chorus resounded on either hand. We listened.
They seemed to be narrowing in upon us. Klaas crept near us. 'Master,'
he whispered in a frightened voice, 'they will kill us all or worse!'
We looked at each other in the gloom. It might well be, and we had
better be prepared. Without a word we rose and hurried to the tent, and
there made ready our rifles. Then the same thought came simultaneously
to us. Should we speak to Hector? He had of late used the smaller tent,
a short distance away from our own his companion, the cursed baboon! We
hurried towards it. It was empty. 'Hector! Hector!' John called out,
softly at first, then loudly, frantically. But no answer came, except
that now the mocking din of the baboons seemed to jeer at us. They
appeared to be gathered near us, all together. As we ran towards the
sound the moon burst through a rift i