ntil he was near my side. Then he
stood breathless, while a feeling of fear and surprise evidently
possessed him. I sat motionless, looking up into his eyes, and saw the
convolutions on his forehead and chin quivering quite perceptibly. He
evidently judged me to be some undeveloped species of Mon-go-din, an
animal of Jupiter bearing faint resemblance to our man-ape. To my
surprise, he suddenly grasped me and tightly held me fast in his
gigantic arms. I made no effort to free myself.

His surprise was only intensified at my resignation. He expected a
struggle, but I neither made an outcry nor resisted capture. Like an
infant I lay in his arms, while he passed quick glances all over me. He
was baffled beyond all measure, and hurried away toward the great
college near by. Upon reaching the museum department, I was placed in a
strong cage and the doors were doubly secured.

My captor ran from my presence and, in a few moments, returned with two
other professors. They peered into the cage in painful astonishment,
while I contented myself by taking my watch apart and occasionally
glancing at my select audience.

Then commenced the jibbering consultation, all of which I well
understood. My captor related the full circumstances in connection with
his walk in the grove and the manner in which he captured me. He dwelt
particularly on the indifference I manifested in all his dealings with
me.

"It is a baby Mon-go-din," suggested the one professor, while the other
advanced the theory that I was an abnormal child of some Jupiterite.

My watch excited their curiosity. One reached his hand cautiously
through the bars and evinced by his actions what he wanted. I looked up
into his eyes and spoke my first words.

"Patience, please, till I put the watch together, and you shall have
it."

Not only did his arms fly away from the cage, but his whole body fell
prostrate to the floor, whether from fright or surprise, I knew not. His
two companions were also in a sorry plight. I pretended not to notice
their consternation, and kept myself busy in placing the parts of my
watch together.

After a while I was addressed by a trembling questioner: "Where is your
home, my child?" I did not lift my eyes, but completed my little
self-appointed task, and at once raised the watch in fulfillment of my
promise.

The timid professor ventured to accept it and, as he received it from my
hand, he again asked: "Where is your home?"

"Farther awa