[Illustration]
The fight with the snakes, which now began, was not remarkable except for
the stories to which it gave rise. The reptiles were nearly all driven
from the country before it was over, although many of them took refuge
in the Swamp. But many tales of prowess were related of that war, which
made it famous in after times, and caused it to be the event from which
subsequent time was reckoned. Shoozoo claimed to have killed more snakes
and bigger snakes than any of the rest, and, as none could boast much of
their actual exploits, which were small compared with those claimed by
Shoozoo, they all took to lying, and thus started the habit of making
snake stories, which has come down to their descendants. These accounts
were so great that the next generation, which was the first to believe
them, ascribed marvelous powers to the heroes of this war, and so made
it the commencement of an epoch, as well as preserved the stories, with
additions, for their future theology.
“Why do you not,” asked Simlee, a young gorilla for whom Shoozoo had
formed an attachment, “bring home one of those big snakes of which you
kill so many, and proudly lay it at my feet?”
“Is it not enough,” retorted Shoozoo, “that I bring home the story of it?
The honor that comes from snakes is not in having them, but in killing
them.”
“But I want the proof of both your exploits and your love,” replied she;
“the other baboons bring something to their loved ones, and the girls
are all taunting me with your failures and your neglect. I am pining for
snakes.”
Shoozoo felt embarrassed, but, being always ready with a promise when he
lacked an achievement, said:
“I will bring you the great dragon of the swamp, the winged alligator
that rules these waters and darkens the sun when he flies.”
“I would rather have plain snakes,” she said; “I would entwine them in my
hair, and, like the girls of Jo and Kibboo, drape them as trophies about
my neck.”
“Never doubt my love,” he replied, “You shall be ensnaked; and my
conquests and your adornments will be the pride of all monkeydom.”
Simlee, thus reassured, ran laughing up a tree, while Shoozoo departed to
achieve, or invent, fame.
Arming himself with a club and a vivid imagination he went out, like Don
Quixote, for snakes and glory.
[Illustration: “SEE, BELOVED, HOW THE MIGHTY FALL AT THE WORD OF SIMLEE
AND THE STROKE OF SHOOZOO.”]
He had not gone far when he encountered an enormous snake, the first real
one he had found since the war, notwithstanding his stories, and one
which would, indeed, have delighted Simlee and given Shoozoo fame as its
slayer, had he brought it home. But, instead of Shoozoo making for the
snake, the snake made for Shoozoo. Back he turned excitedly, and there
was a long race between the snake and the monkey, the monkey keeping
ahead and gaining; and long after the snake ceased to follow Shoozoo
continued to run. At last, however, Shoozoo panting and almost out of
breath, climbed a tree, and looked about to take in the situation. And,
though he did not see the snake, he nevertheless would not come down,
but remained in the tree till night, when he sneaked home by a route
different from that by which he came.
On nearing the place where he had left Simlee in the morning, and
wondering what account he should give of his day’s adventure, he found
another huge snake lying in his path. He started back in fright; but,
assuring himself that it was dead, he approached with courage. “This,” he
said, “is my opportunity; it will both satisfy Simlee and astonish the
rest.” And so, shouldering the snake he bore it proudly back to Simlee,
and laid it at her feet with these words:
“See, beloved, how the mighty fall at the word of Simlee and the stroke
of Shoozoo!”
Simlee leaped from the tree with glee, and taking up the snake, called to
the other girls who were sitting among the branches or lying about the
mounds, to witness her good fortune.
“That’s the same snake,” replied one, “that was brought here two days ago
by Kibboo, and thrown away this morning because it had begun to smell.”
At this Simlee grew angry, and flew at the girl with open jaws, tearing
her hair and beating her face; and there would have been as hot a fight
between the women as between the men and the snakes, but for the return
of the warriors with their trophies, when the curiosity of the female
apes, which was greater than their anger, put an end to the quarrel, and
they all ran to possess themselves of the snakes for ornaments.