10

At last he reached land, which happened to be the coast of Germany, where the learned Professor Klecks was collecting specimens of sea-weeds, shells, and other marine curiosities: and as Jocko was himself a zoological specimen that might have its value, the Professor pressed him into his service.

Now the Professor had no notion that monkeys were to be idle, being mindful of the saying of a shrewd negro, who insisted on it that monkeys could speak as well as human beings if they chose, only they took care not to do so, for fear of being set to work. And acting on this principle, the Professor argued thus: “ Let him hold his tongue as long as he pleases, for silence is valuable in a servant—hut let him work for his bread.” Accordingly he loaded Jocko with his luggage, his box of specimens, his net for catching butterflies, his telescope, and in short all his traps, while he strutted along, smoking his pipe and reflecting on the difference between men and monkeys.

As to Jocko’s reflections, they were rather gloomy, and he began to think land was no better than sea.