e attacked, our guns and our swords will be at your service, for your
cause will be ours. What say you, O King?" And without waiting for a
response, the shrewd leader of the expedition proceeded to exhibit the
presents of beads, trinkets, and scarlet cloth which he had brought.

The dignity of the monarch was not entirely proof against this tempting
display. His dark eyes gleamed with eager desire, and it was by a
manifest effort that he controlled the impulse to make a hasty descent
from the throne in order to take the presents into his royal hands.

Suddenly the ceremony, which had been proceeding so auspiciously, was
interrupted by an extraordinary disturbance that thoroughly startled
every member of the visiting party save Mr. Paterson.

During the progress of the solemn function there had gathered in the
trees overhead a curious congregation, to wit, a large troop of
monkeys, whose curiosity had evidently been excited by what was going
on below. They came in thousands, leaping from bough to bough, and
from tree to tree, until they assembled right above the king and his
visitors.

Here they remained tolerably quiet for awhile, until, just as his
Majesty was about to reply to Mr. Paterson, the impudent intruders
broke into a deafening chorus of chattering and screaming which made
every other sound inaudible. Not only so, but, in utter fearlessness
of human presence, they began a series of wild antics, which culminated
in their forming living chains, one holding on to the other's tail, and
then they let themselves down from the lofty trees until they were
actually within reach of the people below.

One of these animated chains swung to and fro so near to Donalblane
that he thought the grinning, grasping creatures meant to attack him,
and he drew his cutlass to strike at them, when happily Mr. Paterson
divined his intention, and with a quick movement caught his arm.

"Let them alone, my lad," he said almost sternly. "They will do you no
harm. They are sacred here. Be careful."

It was well he had been so quick, for already some of the stalwart
attendants of the king had observed Donalblane, and were lifting their
long spears menacingly.

Donalblane's weapon went back into its sheath; and, bracing himself up,
he said under his breath--

"Ye grinning loons, ye'll not scairt me, but gin ye do lay hands on me,
I'll gi'e ye a clout that'll teach ye manners."

The uneasiness of the Scotsmen at the monkeys'