As I saw the fellow wished to say something, I at length asked him whether he had any proposal to make respecting his wicked and troublesome pet.

The old man's face brightened up with this prospect of a respite for his favourite; and, after humming and hawing for a minute, he said,-- "It is all owing to these two great teeth, sir; if they were out, he would be as harmless as any lamb." "I tell you what it is," I replied, catching at this suggestion, "I positively will not have the whole ship's company driven one after another into the sick list by your confounded monkey; but if you choose to draw those wild-boar tusks of his, you may let him live." Few reprieves were ever hailed at the foot of the gallows with more joy by the friends of a felon than this announcement of a commutation of Mr.St.Jago's sentence was received by his affectionate companions.

Even the marines, though constitutionally predisposed against him, were glad of the change; and I heard the sentry at the cabin door say, "I knew the captain had too much regard for the animal to do him an injury." Injury, indeed! I question whether poor Jacko thought the alternative any favour.

At all events, his friends seemed grievously puzzled how to fulfil the conditions of his exemption from a watery grave; for I could perceive a council of war going on upon the lee side of the main deck, as to the best method of proceeding in the affair of the tusks.
"Who'll hold the monkey ?" said one.
No answer was made to this.

It was like the old story of belling the cat; but there was no Douglas so bold as to try the experiment on Master Jacko, who at any time was a powerful animal, and would, it was naturally inferred, make a tenfold effort when his teeth were the objects of attack.
"Even suppose we could tie the poor unfortunate victim," said the quarter-master, "who knows how to pull out these great big teeth?
We might break his jaw in the operation." There was a long pause.
"I dare say," at length cried one of the party, "that the doctor's mate, who is a good-natured gentleman, would be so kind as to tell us how we can manage this affair." A deputation of the monkey's friends was accordingly despatched to present a humble petition to the surgeon's assistant, praying that he would be graciously pleased to lend his professional aid in saving the jaw, and perhaps the life, of one of the most diverting vagabonds in his Majesty's service.
Fortunately, the assistant medico was not one of those priggish puppies who, having little professional knowledge to balance their own inherent stupidity, fancy it necessary to support their dignity by the agency of etiquettes alone.