Of course, Jack
was flogged and scolded, at which he was very penitent; but the
deceitful rogue, at the end of three days, sent another victim to the
same destiny. But his spite against his own race was manifested at
another time in a very original way. The men had been painting the
ship's side with a streak of white, and upon being summoned to dinner,
left their brushes and paint on deck. Unknown to Jack, I was seated
behind the companion door, and saw the whole transaction; he called a
little black monkey to him, who, like the others, immediately crouched
to his superior, when he seized him by the nape of the neck with one
paw, took the brush, dripping with paint, with the other, and covered
him with white from head to foot. Both the man at the helm and myself
burst into a laugh, upon which Jack dropped his victim, and scampered up
the rigging. The unhappy little beast began licking himself, but I
called the steward, who washed him so well with turpentine, that all
injury was prevented; but during our bustle Jack was peeping with his
black nose through the bars of the maintop, apparently enjoying the
confusion. For three days he persisted in remaining aloft; no one could
catch him, he darted with such rapidity from rope to rope; at length,
impelled by hunger, he dropped unexpectedly from some height on my
knees, as if for refuge, and as he had thus confided in me, I could not
deliver him up to punishment.
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