the case were there an equality existing between us."

"Peterkin," said I, "there is fallacy in your reasoning."

"Can you show it?" said he.

"No; the web is too much ravelled to disentangle."

"Not at all," cried Jack; "I can unravel it in a minute, and settle the
whole question by proving that there does exist an equality between us;
for it is well-known, and generally admitted by all his friends, and
must be acknowledged by himself, that Peterkin is an ass."

"Even admitting that," rejoined Peterkin, "it still remains to be proved
that a philosopher, a gorilla, and an ass are equal. Of course I
believe the latter to be superior to both the former animals; but in
consideration of the lateness of the hour, and the able manner in which
you have discussed this subject, I beg to withdraw my motion, and to
state that I am ready to accompany you over the plain as soon as you
please."

At this point our conversation was interrupted by the shriek of a small
monkey, which had been sitting all the time among the branches of the
tree beneath which we stood.

"I declare it has been listening to us," cried Peterkin.

"Yes, and is shouting in triumph at your defeat," added Jack.

As he spoke, Makarooroo fired, and the monkey fell to the ground almost
at our feet.

"Alas! it has paid a heavy price for its laugh," said Peterkin, in a
tone of sadness.

The poor thing was mortally wounded; so much so that it could not even
cry. It looked up with a very piteous expression in our faces. Placing
its hand on its side, it coughed once or twice, then lying down on its
back and stretching itself out quite straight, it closed its eyes and
died.

I never could bear to shoot monkeys. There was something so terribly
human-like in their sufferings, that I never could witness the death of
one without feeling an almost irresistible inclination to weep.
Sometimes, when short of provisions, I was compelled to shoot monkeys,
but I did so as seldom as possible, and once I resolved to go supperless
to bed rather than shoot one whose aspect was so sad and gentle that I
had not the heart to kill it. My companions felt as I did in this
matter, and we endeavoured to restrain Makarooroo as much as possible;
but he could not understand our feelings, and when he got a chance of a
shot, almost invariably forgot our injunctions to let monkeys alone
unless we were absolutely ill off for food. To do him justice, however,
I must add that we w