At the sound of the shot, the ape uttered a plaintive cry,
relaxed its hold upon the lad and fell upon its knees on the
ground with its hands raised in supplication as previously.
"I ought to shoot you," declared the lad between his gasps for
breath as he drew the weapon from its holster and pointed it at
the animal, "but I won't. I'll take you with me and maybe I can
sell you for enough to pay me for the scare you've given me. Now,
march!"
He pointed with his finger down the track, but the beast would
not stir.
"Don't you intend to do what I tell you?"
The animal perked up his head and kept his eye upon the revolver.
"Well," exclaimed Billie as he drew a long breath, "this is the
limit. I can't make you mind and I won't hurt you. I guess the
only thing I can do is to go and leave you."
Suiting the action to the word, Billie turned and started down
the track, his revolver still in his hand.
He had not gone more than a dozen steps, before he heard the soft
pat-pat behind him, and on looking back could see nothing but the
waving grass to indicate the whereabouts of his erstwhile
assailant.
"So I am to be followed, am I? Well, all right." Then, as an
afterthought: "I wonder how I can catch him when I want him.
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