ws, just as a dog might seize
a bone, and bit me savagely with his tusk-like teeth.

Fortunately, all of us were in full marching rig with gaiters on, and
this protection prevented the baboon's teeth from penetrating far into
my flesh, though he made his mark on my unfortunate calf.

Then, on my prodding him in one of his hind legs, which I clutched in my
turn, thinking such a procedure only fair play, the beast dropped the
gaiter he was busy gnawing up, and made at me with a howl, endeavouring
to clutch me again in his hairy hug.

But, dropping on one knee, I gave him an upper cut with my doubled fist
right under the brute's chin, which prevented this movement; and the
next moment, falling back, when I jumped on top of him, he and I were
rolling over and over, locked together, the baboon and I, in each
other's arms, and engaged in one of the biggest rough-and-tumble fights
I ever had the pleasure of participating in!

The big brute, though, was so strong and muscular that he got the better
of me after a bit, tearing all the clothes off me with the long nails he
had at the ends of his toes and human-like fingers, besides biting me in
the most savage fashion wherever he saw an opening.

I thought my last hour had come.

But, help was at hand.

As I gasped and struggled frantically with the ferocious monster,
feeling my strength ebbing away so fast that I had hardly power enough
to protect my face from the brute's cruel claws, I heard a hoarse shout
and a rapid footstep near me crunching on the ground.

Then.

`Bang!' came, the report of a rifle close to my ear, and the baboon's
bloody body fell back on top of me, the beast having been shot as dead
as a herring.

"Lor', Tom," exclaimed Larrikins, hauling away the carcass of the
baboon, which I subsequently learnt was a species of the mandrill,
common in the north-eastern and central parts of Africa, "I wer' only in
the nick o' time! Why didn't yer call out, chummy?"

"How could I, Larry?" said I, after he had put his water-bottle to my
mouth and brought me round a bit, so that I was able to sit up and
speak. "The beast had me round the neck and I couldn't have shouted or
even whispered to save my life."

"Well, ye wouldn't 'a saved it, me joker, if I hadn't missed yer all of
a suddink," replied Larrikins, grinning; for I believe he could not have
helped laughing, his disposition was so humorous, if a fellow had told
him his father was dead! "I wer' a-won