Therewasapauseintheoutcry，andfromHans’mouthcameanimitationofasnake’shiss，soperfectthatIalmostsprungtomyfeetThesustainedmurderoussoundranalongthedeck，andthewrenchingatthebarsceasedTheorang-outangwasquakinginanecstasyofpureterror。
“Dotstophim。”saidHans“IlearneddottrickinMogoungTanjongwhenIwascollectingliddlemonkeysforsomepeoplesinBerlinEferyoneinderworldisafraidofdermonkeysexceptdersnakeSoIblaysnakeagainstmonkey，andhekeepquitestill。
DerewastoomuchEgoinhisCosmosDotisdersoul-customofmonkeysAreyouasleep，orwillyoulisten，andIwilltelladaledotyoushallnotpelief？”
“There’snotaleinthewideworldthatIcan’tbelieve。”Isaid。
“IfyouhavelearnedpeliefyouhaflearnedsomedingsNowI
shalltryyourpeliefGood！WhenIwascollectingdoseliddlemonkeys-itwasin’79or’80，undIwasinderislandsofderArchipelago-overdereinderdark“-hepointedsouthwardtoNewGuineagenerally-“MeinGott！IwouldsoonercollectlifereddevilsthanliddlemonkeysWhendeydonotbiteoffyourthumbsdeyarealwaysdyingfromnostalgia-homesick-fordeyhafderimperfectsoul，whichismidwayarrestedindefelopment-undtoomuchEgoIwasderefornearlyayear，unddereIfoundamandotwascalledBertranHewasaFrenchman，undhewasagootman-naturalisttotheboneDeysaidhewasanescapedconvict，buthewasanaturalist，unddotwasenoughformeHewouldcallallherlifebeastsfromderforests，unddeywouldcomeIsaidhewasStFrancisofAssisiinanewdransmigrationproduced，undhelaughedundsaidhehalneverpreachtoderfishesHesolddemfortripang-beche-de-mer。
“Unddotman，whowaskingofbeasts-tamermen，hehadinderhouseshushsuchanoderasdotdevil-animalindercage-agreatorang-outangdotthoughthewasamanHehaffoundhimwhenhewasachild-derorang-outang-undhewaschildandbrotherandoperacomiqueallroundtoBertranHehadhisroomindothouse-notacage，butaroom-mitabedandsheets，andhewouldgotobedandgetupindermorningandsmokehiscigarundeathisdinnermitBertran，undwalkmithimhand-in-hand，which。
wasmosthorribleHerrGott！IhafseendotbeastthrowhimselfbackinhischairandlaughwhenBertranhafmadefunofmeHewasnotabeast；hewasaman，andhetalkedtoBertran，undBertrancomprehended，forIbaveseendemUndhewasalwayspolitefultomeexceptwhenItalktoolongtoBertranundsaynodingsatalltohimDenhewouldpullmeaway-disgreat，darkdevil，mithisenormouspaws~hushasifIwasachildHewasnotabeast，hewasamanDisIsawpeforeIknowhimthreemonths，undBertranhehafsawthesame；andBimi，derorang-outang，bafunderstoodusboth，mithiscigarbetweenhisbig-dogteethundderbluegum。
“Iwasdereayear，dereundatdereoderislands-somedimesformonkeysandsomedimesforbutterfliesundorchitsOnetimeBertransaystomedothewillbemarried，becauseheha~foundagirldotwasgoot，andheinquireifthismarryingideawasrightI
wouldnotsay，pecauseitwasnotmedotwasgoingtobemarried。
Denhegooffcourtingdergirl-shewasahalf-casteFrenchgirl-
veryprettyHafyougotanewlightformycigar？Oof！VeryprettyOnlyIsay’HafyouthoughtofBimi？IfhepullsmeawaywhenItalktoyou，whatwillhedotoyourwife？HewillpullherinpiecesIfIwasyou，Bertran，IwouldgifmywifeforweddingpresentderstufffigureofBimi。’BydottimeIbadlearnedsomedingsaboutdermonkeypeoples’Shoothim？’saysBertran。
’Heisyourbeast，’Isaid；’ifhewasminehewouldbeshotnow。’
“DenIfeltatderbackofmyneckderfingersofBimiMeinGott！ItellyoudothetalkedthroughdosefingersItwasderdeaf-and-dumbalphabetallgompleteHeslidehishairyarmroundmyneck，andhetiltupmychinandlookintomyface，shusttoseeifIunderstoodhistalksowellasheunderstoodmine。
“’Seenowdere！’saysBertran，’undyouwouldshoothimwhileheiscuddlingyou？DotisderTeutoningrate！’
“ButIknewdotIhadmadeBimialife’senemy，pecausehisfingershaftalkmurderthroughthebackofmyneckNextdimeI
seeBimiderewasapistolinmybelt，undhetouchitonce，andI
opendebreechtoshowhimitwasloadedHehafseenderliddlemonkeyskilledinderwoods，andheunderstood。
“SoBertranhewasmarried，andheforgotcleanaboutBimidotwasskippin’aloneonthebeachmitderhafofahumansoulinhisbellyIwasseehimskip，undhetookabigboughundthrashdersandtillhehafmadeagreatholelikeagraveSoIsaystoBertran’Foranysakes，killBimiHeismadmitderjealousy。’
“Bertranhafsaid：’HeisnotmadatallHehafobeyandlovemywife，undifshespeakshewallgetherslippers，’undhelookedathiswifeacrossderroomShewasaveryprettygirl。
“DenIsaidtohim：’Dostthoupretendtoknowmonkeysunddisbeastdotislashinghimselfmadupondersands，pecauseyoudonottalktohim？Shoothimwhenhecomestoderhouse，forhehafderlightinhiseyesdotmeanskilling-undkilling。’Bimicometoderhouse，butderewasnolightinhiseyesItwasallputaway，cunning-socunning-undhefetchdergirlherslippers，andBertranturntomeundsay：’DostthouknowhiminninemonthsmoredanIhafknownhimntwelveyears？Shallachildstabhisfader？I
havefedhim，undhewasmychildDonotspeakthisnonsensetomywifeortomeanymore。’
“DotnextdayBertrancametomyhousetohelpmemakesomewoodcasesforderspecimens，undhetellmedothehaflefthiswifealiddlewhilemitBimiindergardenDenIfinishmycasesquick，undIsay：’Letusgotoyourhouseundgetatrink。’Helaughundsay：’Comealong，drymans。’
“Hiswifewasnotindergarden，undBimididnotcomewhenBertrancalledUndhiswifedidnotcomewhenhecalled，undheknockedatherbedroomdoorunddotwasshuttight-lockedDenhelookedatme，undhisfacewaswhiteIbrokedownderdoormitmyshoulder，undderthatchofderroofwastornintoagreathole，unddersuncameinuponderfloorHafyoueverseenpaperinderwaste-basket，orcardsatwhistondertablescattered？DerewasnowifedotcouldbeseenItellyouderewasnoddingsindotroomdotmightbeawomanDerewasstuffonderfloor，unddotwasallIlookedatdesethingsundIwasverysick；butBertranlookedalittlelongeratwhatwasuponthefloorundderwalls，undderholeinderthatchDenhepegantolaugh，softandlow，undI
knowundthankGoddothewasmadHenefercried，heneferprayedHestoodstillinderdoorwayundlaughtohim-selfDenhesaid：’Shehaflockedherselfindisroom，andhehaftornupderthatchFidoncDotissoWewillmendderthatchundwaitforBimiHewillsurelycome。’
“Itellyouwewaitedtendaysindothouse，afterderroomwasmadeintoaroomagain，andonceortwicewesawBimicomm’aliddlewayfromderwoodsHewasafraidpecausehehafdonewrongBertrancalledhimwhenhewascometolookonthetenthday，undBimicomeskippingalongderbeachundmakingnoises，mitalongpieceofNackhairinhishandsDenBertranlaughandsay，’Fidond’shustasifitwasaglassbrokenupondertable；undBimicomenearer，undBertranwashoney-sweetinhisvoiceandlaughedtohimselfForthreedayshemadelovetoBimi，pecauseBimiwouldnotlethimselfbetouchedDenBimicometodinneratdersametablemitus，undderhaironhishandswasallblackundthickmit-mitwhathaddriedonhishandsBertrangavehimsangareetillBimiwasdrunkandstupid，undden-“
Hanspausedtopuffathiscigar。
“Andthen？”saidI。
“UnddenBertrankillhimwithhishands，undIgoforawalkuponderheachItwasBertran’sownpizinessWhenIcomebackderapehewasdead，undBertranhewasdyingabofehim；butstillhelaughedaliddleundlow，andhewasquitecontentNowyouknowderformulaufderstrengthofderorang-outang-itismoreasseventooneinrelationtomanButBertran，hehafkilledBimimitsoochdingsasGottgifhimDotwasdermericle。”
Theinfernalclamorinthecagerecommenced“Aba！DotfriendofourshafstilltoomuchEgoinhisCosmos，Bequiet，thou！”
HanshissedlongandvenomouslyWecouldhearthegreatbeastquakinginhiscage。
“Butwhyintheworlddidn’tyouhelpBertraninsteadoflettinghimbekilled？”Iasked。
“Myfriend。”saidHans，composedlystretchinghimselftoslumber，“itwasnotniceeventomineselfdotIshouldlifafterIhadseendotroomwitderholeinderthatchUndBertran，hewasherhusbandGood-night，undsleepwell。”
NAMGAYDOOLA
ONCEuponatimetherewasakingwholivedontheroadtoThibet，verymanymilesintheHimalayaMountainsHiskingdomwas11，000feetabovethesea，andexactlyfourmilessquare，butmostofthemilesstoodonend，owingtothenatureofthecountry。
Hisrevenueswereratherlessthan400poundsyearly，andtheywereexpendedonthemaintenanceofoneelephantandastandingarmyoffivemenHewastributarytotheIndiangovernment，whoallowedhimcertainsumsforkeepingasectionoftheHimalaya-
ThibetroadinrepairHefurtherincreasedhisrevenuesbysellingtimbertotherailwaycompanies，forhewouldcutthegreatdeodartreesinhisownforestaridtheyfellthunderingintotheSutlejRiverandweresweptdowntothePlains，300milesaway，andbecamerailwaytiesNowandagainthisking，whosenamedoesnotmatter，wouldmountaring-streakedhorseandridescoresofmilestoSimlatowntoconferwiththelieutenant-governoronmattersofstate，orassuretheviceroythathisswordwasattheserviceofthequeen-empressThentheviceroywouldcausearuffleofdrumstobesoundedandthering-streakedhorseandthecavalryofthestate-twomenintatters-andtheheraldwhoboretheSilverStickbeforethekingwouldtrotbacktotheirownplace，whichwasbetweenthetailofaheaven-climbingglacierandadarkbirchforest。
Now，fromsuchaking，alwaysrememberingthathepossessedoneveritableelephantandcouldcounthisdescentfor1，200years，I
expected，whenitwasmyfatetowanderthroughhisdominions，nomorethanmerelicensetolive。
Thenighthadclosedinrain，androllingcloudsblottedoutthelightsofthevillagesinthevalleyFortymilesaway，untouchedbycloudorstorm，thewhiteshoulderofDongoPa-theMountainoftheCounciloftheGods-upheldtheeveningstarThemonkeyssungsorrowfullytoeachotherastheyhuntedfordryrootsinthefern-drapedtrees，andthelastpuffoftheday-windbroughtfromtheunseenvillagesthescentofdampwoodsmoke，hotcakes，drippingundergrowth，androttingpine-conesThatsmellisthetruesmelloftheHimalayas，andifitoncegetsintothebloodofamanhewill，atthelast，forgettingeverythingelse，returntotheHillstodieThecloudsclosedandthesmellwentaway，andthereremainednothinginalltheworldexceptchillingwhitemistsandtheboomoftheSutlejRiver。
Afat-tailedsheep，whodidnotwanttodie，bleatedlamentablyatmytent-doorHewasscufflingwiththeprimeministerandthedirector-generalofpubliceducation，andhewasaroyalgifttomeandmycampservantsIexpressedmythankssuitablyandinquiredifImighthaveaudienceofthekingTheprimeministerreadjustedhisturban-ithadfallenoffinthestruggle-andassuredmethatthekingwouldbeverypleasedtoseemeThereforeI
dispatchedtwobottlesasaforetaste，andwhenthesheephadentereduponanotherincarnation，climbeduptotheking’spalacethroughthewetHehadsenthisarmytoescortme，butitstayedtotalkwithmycookSoldiersareverymuchalikealltheworldover。
Thepalacewasafour-roomed，white-washedmud-and-timberhouse，thefinestinalltheHillsforaday’sjourneyThekingwasdressedinapurplevelvetjacket，whitemuslintrousers，andasaffron-yellowturbanofpriceHegavemeaudienceinalittlecarpetedroomopeningoffthepalacecourt-yard，whichwasoccupiedbytheelephantofstateThegreatbeastwassheetedandanchoredfromtrunktotail，andthecurveofhisbackstoodoutagainsttheskyline。
Theprimeministerandthedirector-generalofpublicinstructionwerepresenttointroduceme；butallthecourthadbeendismissedlestthetwobottlesaforesaidshouldcorrupttheirmoralsThekingcastawreathofheavy，scentedflowersroundmyneckasIbowed，andinquiredhowmyhonoredpresencehadthefelicitytobeI
saidthatthroughseeinghisauspiciouscountenancethemistsofthenighthadturnedintosunshine，andthatbyreasonofhisbeneficentsheephisgooddeedswouldberememberedbythegodsHesaidthatsinceIhadsetmymagnificentfootinhiskingdomthecropswouldprobablyyieldseventypercentmorethantheaverageIsaidthatthefameofthekinghadreachedtothefourcornersoftheearth，andthatthenationsgnashedtheirteethwhentheyhearddailyofthegloryofhisrealmandthewisdomofhismoon-likeprimeministerandlotus-eyeddirector-