est, for she had a young one
in her arms. Turk made short work of the poor thing, for ere Fritz could
call the dog off, the ape was dead. The young one, as soon as it saw
Fritz, sprang on his back, put its paws in his curls, and would not let
go. I at length got the ape from Fritz's back, and took it up in my arms
like a child. We found that it was too young to seek its own food, and,
as Fritz said he should like to take it home, we put it on Turk's back.
Turk did not at first like this, but we soon got him to bear the ape,
which held so tight by the hair on the dog's neck that it could not well
fall off. Fritz then led Turk with a string, that he might not stray out
of sight, or throw off his charge, which I think he would have done had
we not been on the watch.

It did not take us long to reach the bank of the stream near to our
home.

I need not tell you how glad my wife and sons were to see us safe back,
or with what joy the boys took the "real live ape" out of Fritz's arms.

At length, when they got more staid, I told them that we had brought
them all sorts of good things, but that we had not met with any of the
men of whom we went in search. "God's will be done," said my wife, "let
us thank Him that you have come back safe to us. This day to me has been
an age; but put down your loads, for we must now go in and hear what you
have to tell."

Fritz and I then told them, by turns, where we found the things we
brought with us, how we made and dried the plates and bowls, cut the
canes, and caught the ape in the wood. Our tales had not come to an end
when we were told that it was time to sup. Ernest had shot a wild goose,
and some fish had been caught in the stream. With these, and the Dutch
cheese that we brought from the ship, we made a good meal; but the boys
would not rest till we broke some of the nuts, from which they drank the
milk, made sweet with the juice of the canes. I must tell you that we
ate our food in great state from our gourd rind plates, which my wife
said she should prize more than if they were made of pure gold.

That night the ape went to bed with Jack and Fritz, and we all slept in
peace till the cocks on the roof of the tent woke us up.

Next day Fritz and I went back to the wreck to save the live stock, and
get what else we had left that might be of use to us. We found it no
light task, for we had to make floats for the cow, the ass, the sheep,
and the goats, throw them in the sea, and ti