little tin sword by his
side that one of the men of his company had made from a salmon can,
while "Paterno" looked gay and world-wise in a ballet skirt ingeniously
contrived by a company tailor from a bit of red mosquito-bar. The
others all had names, most of them for some distinguished military
commander to whom they were supposed to bear some facial resemblance.

The show was a decided success. Every contestant put aside his
work-a-day tricks, and performed those only that were intended for
gala days. "Aguinaldo" was a sure winner from the first, for he
had learned to draw his sword, wave it dramatically over his head,
cheer for a few seconds in monkey talk, then break and dash to the
rear. "Paterno" was an easy candidate for second honors. He gave a
giddy dance and looked coy.

But "pride goeth before a fall." It was decided to let the mascots
have a social gathering. They were brought into a ring formed by
grinning soldiers. All went well for a moment or two. They grinned,
caressed, and made merry. Just in the very heights of the ecstacies,
a playful young monk, that had been exchanging "sheep's eyes" with
"Paterno," in a fit of playfulness made a grab for the latter's
tail, but lo! there was none. The news spread like the incoming of
"amigos" after the capture of a Filipino town. A damper fell upon the
meeting. All scorned the maimed fellow with that frosty bearing that
a reigning belle bestows upon a promising _debutante_, or the monkey
family toward their tailless fellow-monks.

The disgraced animal begged and entreated for further notice, and
a renewal of the general good time that had been so unceremoniously
ended by the recent discovery, but his solicitations were in vain--none
condescended to again notice him.

With "Paterno," patience at last ceased to be a virtue. Knowing that
the playful young monk who had made the discovery caused his downfall,
he looked for a moment at that guileless-appearing creature. The
expression of his face rapidly changed from a look of entreaty to
that of ferociousness. With a vicious bound, he pounced upon his
enemy, clawing, tearing, and biting. The other members of this solemn
gathering simply separated the belligerents, none daring to do harm
to the socially ostracised fellow.

Finally, giving up the struggle, "Paterno" withdrew from the crowd. In
the _melee_ he had lost his skirt. He looked long and pitifully at his
fellow-mascots who had so suddenly turned against hi