The jungle was terrible. Everywhere Piang came across victims ofthe drought. Little monkeys, huddled together, cried like babies;big birds, perched on the sun-scorched trees, were motionless. Hestumbled over something soft. Always on the alert, his bolo was readyin an instant, but there was no need for it. He looked down into thedying eyes of a little musk-deer. Pity and misgiving filled his heart,and he wondered if he would be able to reach the Big Pass before hestarved. Surely, up there it would be different; they always had rain,and if he could only hold out.... A snuff-like dust constantly rosefrom the decayed vegetation; it pained his nostrils, and he muffledhis face in his head-cloth as he penetrated deeper into the jungle. Hemust reach a clearing before night; it would mean almost certain deathto sleep in the jungle's poisonous atmosphere. There was a good spotfurther up, and he worked his way toward it, determined to reach itfor his first night. The liana-vine that he cut for water was dry. Helistened for the trickle of a brook. The jungle is usually full oflittle streams, but no sound rewarded his vigilance. Stumbling along,he began to think his journey would end there, when he was startled byloud chattering. A monkey settlement was evidently near, and he knewby their liveliness that they were not famishing for water. Spurredon by hope, he redoubled his efforts and was rewarded by the sightof a cocoanut grove in a clearing.
There was a general protest from the inhabitants as he made hisappearance, but he paid no attention to the monkey insults hurled athim and gratefully picked up the cocoanuts with which they bombardedhim. Shaking each one, he tossed it from him. They were all dry. Themonkeys were too clever to waste any nuts that had milk in them. Piangtied his feet together loosely with his head-cloth, and, using it asa brace, hopped up one of the trees as easily as a monkey. Sittingin the branches, he drained one cocoanut after another, and when histhirst was slaked, he amused himself by returning the bombardment. Hewas surrounded by monkey snipers and he laughingly rubbed his headwhere one of their shots had struck home. With careful aim he showeredthe trees, and gradually the monkeys began to disperse. He had won;the fun was over. He watched them scold and fuss as they retreatedinto the jungle, regretting that he had not kept them with him alittle longer for company.
The big sun was dipping into the trees now, and he descended to gathermaterial for his bed. High up in the cocoanut-tree Piang built hiscouch. He selected two trees that were close together, and, cuttingstrips of ratan, bound stalks of bamboo together making a platformwhich he lashed to the trees, far out of reach of night prowlers. Hedipped into his scanty provisions, and then, scrambling to his nest,covered himself with palm branches, which afford warmth as wellas protection from the unhealthy dew. Quickly Piang sank into anuntroubled slumber. All night long creatures fought below him for thefew remaining drops of moisture in the discarded shells, but he knewthat he was safe, and their snarls and bickerings did not alarm him.
Adventures of Piang the Moro Jungle Boy Page 18
